A YOUTH faces being locked up after he admitted committing a sex act in front of a six-year-old child.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was due to face trial at Sedgefield Magistrates' Court, in Newton Aycliffe, yesterday, but pleaded guilty to the charge of committing gross indecency on or towards a child under 16 just before the start of the proceedings.

District Judge Michael Wood was told how the 18-year-old was sat in a chair in the living room at the child's home, in the Crook area, in December last year, when he committed the sex act in front of her.

Sheila Moore, prosecuting, said that the child had spoken of the incident about a week after it had happened.

She said that she gave a detailed description of what he was doing and said that he had called to her to come over.

Mrs Moore said: "Her parents tell me that, because of the not guilty plea, it had not been possible to seek counselling for her. Both her parents and her teacher have said that there has been a distinct change in her behaviour since this interaction has taken place."

Judge Wood said that the last-minute guilty plea meant that the victim had been spared the trauma of giving evidence, but warned the youth, who is staying at a bail hostel in Newcastle, he was considering a custodial sentence.

The case has been adjourned until October 27 to await pre-sentence reports.