A ST HELENS man has pleaded guilty to child sex offences, including seven counts of rape.

David Morris appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday via videolink from HMP Altcourse and pleaded guilty to 34 offences in total.

He admitted seven counts of rape, 13 counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

The 52-year-old, of Sandfield Road, Eccleston, also pleaded guilty to taking indecent images, of categories A, B and C, possessing and distributing indecent images; two counts of engaging in sexual communications with a child; three counts of voyeurism; possession of an extreme pornographic image and possession of a prohibited image of a child.

The offences took place between 2018 and this year.

READ > Crown Court date set for man accused of throwing boiling water in attack

Meanwhile, Julie Morris, 44, who is not related to David Morris, appeared charged with 18 child sexual abuse offences, including two counts of rape, has appeared in court.

Julie Morris did not enter pleas to the charges when she appeared via videolink from HMP Styal at Liverpool Crown Court.

Julie Morris, who worked as a deputy head teacher at St George's Central Church of England Primary School in Tyldesley, is charged with nine counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity; two counts of rape; three counts of indecent photo of a child; one count of possessing indecent photos of a child; one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child and two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

The charges are not related to her employment.

Julie Morris, of Ancroft Drive, Hindley, Wigan, could be seen crying during the hearing, which lasted about 30 minutes.

Judge Andrew Menary QC adjourned the case to Wednesday, December 22, when Julie Morris will be arraigned on the charges and David Morris will be sentenced.