A CONVICTED child sex offender who sent explicit messages to teenage girls on Facebook has been told he is facing jail.

Craig Gilbert, from Stanley, admitted sending messages to girls aged 13 and 14 when he appeared at Durham Crown Court yesterday.

The 29-year-old was given a suspended sentence earlier this year after he admitted sending pictures of his genitalia to a paedophile hunter who was posing as a 14-year-old girl.

On Friday, Gilbert admitted making indecent images of children between August 1, 2016 and December 24, 2018, as well as five counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard he had sent sexually explicit messages to three 14-year-old girls between August 1, 2016 and December 24, 2018.

He also used Facebook Messenger to contact two 13-year-olds between February 28 and March 3 this year.

Gilbert, of Unity Terrace, is due to be sentenced on September 6 and was remanded in custody.

Judge Christopher Prince said: "You will be receiving a custodial sentence in due course. It's just a case of how long you will be spending in prison."

In March, Gilbert was given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to attempting to incite a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to meet a child following grooming.