A COUNSELLOR who worked with vulnerable youngsters - including abuse victims - is today exposed as a paedophile who himself preyed on children and swapped indecent pictures.

The secret double life of Robert Fothergill, who worked with children in schools across the region, emerged when detectives were investigating the internet activities of another suspect, The Northern Echo has learned.

Fothergill, from Richmond, North Yorkshire, is facing jail after tearfully confessing to a series of sickening crimes in front of his family in court.

The married father was arrested two months ago as police probed the online actions of another paedophile - and found he had been in touch with Fothergill.

It emerged the 46-year-old had sent indecent images to others and discussed abusing children during chat log conversations last February.

His barrister, Tom Mitchell, described the talk as "fantasy" but told a court that former bank worker Fothergill is braced for a lengthy prison sentence.

"Inevitably, this will be custody," said Mr Mitchell. "The length is to be determined, but reports will be needed, not least to consider the question of risk."

Fothergill set up his Footprints Counselling and Support Service company in 2012 after studying at Bishop Auckland College and Darlington College.

Among the children he counselled were victims of child abuse, bullying, domestic abuse and youngsters with low-self esteem or with communication problems.

In 2005, he left his job as a Yorkshire Bank mortgage consultant, where he had worked across the region including Northallerton, Thirsk and Thornaby, Stockton.

As a counsellor, he worked with a number of schools across the region including in Richmond and Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire and Wolsingham, County Durham.

At the time of his arrest, he was working at a school on Wearside.

Fothergill - who spent 13 summers volunteering at an orphanage in Romania - had been working at the school on a temporary part-time contract, said Mr Ashton.

In his profile on the online business directory Linkedin, he describes himself as "honest, hard-working and conscientious, applying myself fully to the job in-hand".

He worked for seven years in the Durham Dales alongside councillors, police and other services supporting locals to get involved in decisions affecting them.

In October last year he resigned as Chair of Governors at Melsonby Methodist Primary School, North Yorkshire, citing ill health.

Appearing at Teesside Crown Court in a baggy grey hoody and unshaven, Fothergill glanced at the public gallery when he was brought into the dock by an officer.

He smiled towards his wife, then sobbed as he said "guilty" to charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and the sexual assault of a child.

He also admitted distributing indecent images of children, possessing indecent images, and attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Fothergill, of White Lands, Richmond, will be sentenced in early June after reports have been prepared on him by a psychiatrist and a probation official.

Judge Neil Davey, QC, told him: "The reports will give an accurate and up-to-date picture of you and what it was that led you to commit these offences."

He was remanded to HMP Hull until his next appearance, and the judge said: "You will understand, inevitably, a sentence of imprisonment must be imposed."

The court heard how there was no evidence of the abuse charges - and no complaint had ever been made - but Fothergill confessed to police in his interview.

James Bourne-Arton, prosecuting, said evidence for the picture-sharing came from the chat log, and the indecent images were found on Fothergill's computer.

Mr Mitchell said the case was "interesting, notwithstanding its seriousness", and added: "When he was arrested, police had relatively little to go on.

"He, thereafter, gave them everything in terms of the charges he now faces . . . they are the result of admissions in interview. There is no other evidence."

A prolific user of social media sites, Fothergill also has a Twitter page which promoted his business and told of the commissions he had won to counsel children.

In one online message he posted in July last year, he told his 88 'followers': "School contracts in place . . . private client base is growing fast."

Fothergill says he gained national recognition as 'mobile mortgage advisor of the year' when he worked for the bank, and later became a youth worker.

On his Linkedin profile, the former Thirsk Comprehensive pupil lists the causes he cares about as civil rights and social action, education, health, human rights, poverty alleviation, social services and children.