Two north Cumbrian men have admitted serious online child sex offences after they were exposed by voluntary paedophile hunter groups.

Justin Bell, 49, of Bannisdale Way, Morton, Carlisle, was arrested on Saturday.

At Carlisle's Rickergate Magistrates' Court today, he pleaded guilty to two allegations of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity; and two charges of attempting to communicate sexually with a child.

His defence lawyer Rachel Dixon said Bell felt thoroughly ashamed of his actions.

The defendant, who bowed his head in shame as he stood in the dock, spoke only to confirm his name, address, and pleas.

The court heard that he was "outed" by an organisation called Secret Whispers, which is dedicated to finding and exposing online perverts.

Also in court was Michael Chapman, 23, of Troutbeck, Penrith.

He too was arrested on Saturday.

Already a convicted of sex offender, he pleaded guilty to two allegations: attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child; and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

He was caught thanks to the intervention of the Child Online Safety Team, who deployed a decoy child to prove that he was using the internet to find children so he could communicate sexually with them.

He too was remanded in custody after the court heard that 12,000 people had seen the group's sting video, capturing the moment when he was confronted by his sickening crimes.

Both men, whose cases are not connected, will be sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on May 17.

For a full report of both cases, and details of who they were outed by two separate paedophile hunter groups, see tomorrow's News & Star.