AN ex-soldier is facing an “inevitable” prison sentence, after “commissioning” a Filipino woman to lie naked with her four-year-old child over a web cam.

Carl Mould arrived for the preliminary hearing at Durham Crown Court on bail - facing five charges over possession of hundreds of indecent images of children, plus another count relating to extreme pornography, both moving and stills, downloaded from the internet.

But he was also accused of arranging or commissioning an act of child sexual touching.

It was agreed the indictment could be put to Mould, of Trimdon Station, County Durham, who pleaded ‘guilty’ to all seven counts.

Asked by Judge Christopher Prince about the final offence, Chris Baker, prosecuting, said it related to web camera footage and associated keyboard “conversation” between Mould and a named woman in the Philippines.

During the web chat Mould offered to pay her to strip and lie naked on a bed next to her four-year-old child, subsequently making a Western Union money transfer of about 1,000 Philippines pesos, said to be worth about £30, to the woman.

“It’s not clear if any sexual activity took place, but the conversation did, in which he was inciting a naked adult to touch this child.”

Judge Prince said: “These are serious allegations, but the final count is a particularly serious.

“It’s effectively inciting the commission of a child sexual offence, attracting a prison sentence of some years as the starting point.

“It’s using Western wealth to incite those from poorer countries to engage in sexual activities on line.”

Andrew Petterson, for Mould, told the court: “He’s 52 and of previous good character.

“He suffers post traumatic stress disorder and has other mental health conditions arising from his time in the country’s armed forces, where he served in Northern Ireland and sub-Saharan Africa.”

Mr Petterson asked for preparation of a psychiatric assessment to accompany a background report on Mould, prior to next month’s sentencing hearing.

“It would look at the impact a custodial sentence would have on him and his mental health at the time of the offences.

“He knows a prison sentence is inevitable in this case, but all I ask is for him to given the chance to put his affairs in order and assist in the preparation of these reports.”

But Judge Prince said he had “great concerns” about Mould retaining his liberty until the sentencing hearing, as he considered his actions were those of, “a sexual predator”.

The judge, therefore, remanded Mould, of Hurworth Close, Trimdon Station, in custody.

He is to be sentenced on Friday May 29.

In the meantime, Mould’s name will be entered on the Sex Offenders’ Register.