A FORMER restaurateur has admitted a series of decade-old sex offences involving two teenage women.

Darren John McGlen, who until recently owned an Italian restaurant in County Durham, previously denied six counts of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in sexual activity, without consent.

The case was set to go to trial this week.

But, appearing at Durham Crown Court, yesterday, McGlen’s barrister, Jamie Adams, asked for the charges to be put again.

McGlen, 51, of Haydon, Washington, formerly director of Pepes restaurant, in Beamish Village, admitted all seven counts.

Asked by Judge Christopher Prince when the prosecution was told of the intended plea change, Mr Adams said, at the latest, it was early last week.

Dan Cordey, prosecuting, said once the Crown was told, both women, now in their mid-20s, were informed and the case was taken out of the list as a trial.

Mr Adams asked for a background report to be drawn up on the defendant, who is of previous good character, prior to him being sentenced.

Agreeing, Judge Christopher Prince told Mr Adams: “The defendant must realise there is a real risk of him going to prison.”

He bailed McGlen, who must now register as a sex offender, to return for sentence on April 28.