A SERIAL child sex offender could be facing an indeterminate spell behind bars after his latest offences brought him back before a judge.

Nigel Lodge was caught inciting a young teenager to engage in sexual activity, attempting to incite a teenager to engage in sexual activity as well as breaching the terms of his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

The 58-year-old was jailed in 2018 after sending indecent messages and videos to a 13-year-old schoolgirl before communicating with what he believed was another young girl while he was on police bail.

Lodge, who was living in Station Road, Darlington, at the time, was jailed for three years, ten months at Teesside Crown Court after he admitted charges of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to watch a sexual act, attempted grooming and incitement and sending a malicious communication.

Lodge, of Portrack Lane, Stockton, pleaded guilty to the three offences from last month at an earlier hearing.

When he appeared at the same court on Friday, Lodge was expecting to be sentenced for his latest offences but Judge Howard Crowson wanted further information about his previous convictions and his future risk before passing judgement.

Judge Crowson said: "He will get a prison sentence but it's how the prison sentence will be passed, whether it will be determinate or something else.

"I will adjourn this case to find out about the previous offences, knowing more about those offences and knowing more about what the probation service thinks will make a difference."

Anthony Pettengell, representing Lodge, agreed his client would benefit from the case being adjourned so the relevant questions can be asked before sentence.

The case was adjourned until July 20.

In 2018, prosecutor Harry Hadfield said the 55-year-old began texting a 13-year-old girl at the beginning of 2016 using a social media app.

Under the tag name ‘Sexy Man’, Lodge sent images of his private parts to the victim as well as a video showing him touching himself.

He called the teenager cute and sexy and suggested they meet up for sex. Lodge moved onto making voice calls via WhatsApp, telling the young girl he loved her.

Five days after he had appeared at crown court and pleaded guilty to the first set of offences he was in contact with the decoy, offering to teach her about sex.