A SEXUAL predator who went to a pub's family fun day intending to abuse a boy fled after a horrified dad found him with his five-year-old son in a toilet cubicle.

Dominic Onions was lurking for more than an hour before luring the lad into the toilets and sexually assaulted him, Durham Crown Court was told.

The 50-year-old was later arrested and images on his mobile phone led police to another victim.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said a couple had gone to the pub in a north Durham village with their son. While the mother was singing karaoke, her husband went to the gents toilet.

“He heard feet shuffle as if two people were inside a cubicle and assumed it was a dad with his young son," he said. "But he turned to see a man run out."

Concerned for the child, he could see feet underneath the door and recognised the socks. "He called for his son, only for his worst fears to be confirmed.”

When the landlord reviewed the CCTV he recognised Onions.

The footage also showed him trying to beckon a seven-year-old boy into the toilets who “mercifully” decided against going in.

When questioned, Onions admitted having a sexual interest in young children and went with the intention of sexually abusing a young child that day, Mr Dodds said.

The first boy he encountered fitted 'his criteria' but ran off.

In a victim impact statement, the mother of the boy abused in the toilets, said: "I feel sickened and tortured by this. How could this man do this?"

The mother of Onions' second victim, who was abused elsewhere, said: “Words cannot describe what I think of you. You are not human … you are a dirty filthy man who has got kicks from my son.

Onions, of Marigold Crescent, Bournmoor, near Chester-le-Street, pleaded guilty to 11 charges involving the three boys.

He admitted eight offences, between January 1 and May 31, including causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity with a child, taking and making indecent photos, three sexual assaults of a child and sexual activity with a child.

He admitted a further four offences, committed on May 30, including abducting a child, sexual assault of a child and sexual activity with a child, and attempted abduction of a child.

Lorraine Mustard, mitigating, said Onions, who is in custody, wished to apologise to the families for his actions.

He will be sentence at Teesside Crown Court on August 10.