A BAKER who fantasised about being told he had a "small penis" groomed and carried out sex acts with a child, a court has heard.

David Lionel Baker, who was a company director at The Moody Baker, in Barnard Castle, sobbed as he heard the facts at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard how the 43-year-old had started messaging the then 15-year-old on Facebook in summer 2016 after becoming aware of some of her personal issues.

He continued to groom her with snapchats and video chats but these soon lead to the predator trying to "engage her in sexual conversations".

Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said: "He asked her what type of men she was attracted to. He asked her whether she liked certain sizes of penis and many conversations involved talking about the size of his own penis."

Two months later, Mr Perks said Baker asked the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to send him nude photographs of herself and speak to him sexually.

"He told her about his fantasies and requested she tell him he had a small penis," he said. "She sent nude pictures of herself on a number of occasions as she was worried if she didn't, he would tell people about her personal issues.

"The defendant sent numerous pictures of himself holding his erect penis and he would openly masturbate whilst on video chat at the complainant."

Mr Perks said another incident at a hotel in Newcastle involved Baker following the girl to her room and making her "trapped".

Baker pulled his trousers down when the girl refused to do it for him and then asked her to measure his penis with a tape measure he had brought with him.

The court heard how the girl reluctantly did what Baker asked and also masturbated him.

Being drunk and having taken a ecstasy, Baker was unable to ejaculate and left the room shortly after.

The girl confided in a friend three days later and Baker was arrested. Officers found letters addressed to his family while he also deleted most of his messages on his phone, telling police he knew he would be arrested.

When interviewed, Baker admitted the crimes gave him a "sexual thrill" but did not believe he was attracted to children.

In a victim statement the girl, now 16, said the ordeal had left her anxious and suffering flashbacks.

Baker received a suspended sentence in 2007 for related offences including sexual activity with another 15-year-old girl in Birmingham.

Ryan Mark, mitigating, said his client had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and lost his home and family following the revelations. He said Baker took full responsibility for his actions and admitted he had been a "hypocrite".

Judge Stephen Earl remanded Baker in custody. He will be sentenced on April 25.