A FORMER Crewe man has admitted to the rape and sexual assault of a young boy and girl more than 20 years ago.

Paedophile James Barry Jones, aged 62, pleaded guilty to the catalogue of sexual offences on Tuesday at Knutsford Crown Court.

He admitted raping the girl and boy when they were both under 16 in the early 1980s.

The court heard how these charges were specimen counts and represent the 'many occasions' he raped the victims.

Jones also admitted three counts of indecently assaulting the girl.

He further pleaded guilty to twice indecently assaulting the boy, and two counts of indecency against the boy.

Prosecuting Meirion Lewis-Jones, said: "These pleas are acceptable to the female complainant on the understanding that the rape happened more than once.

"In other words there were many occasions of rape.

"With regard to the male, the count of rape again means that there were many occasions at this time that rape occurred."

But defending John Philpotts, said that while Jones accepted the rapes happened on more than one occasion, it was a matter of opinion whether this amounted to 'many times'.

He added: "Mr Jones is under no illusions that this will be a long term of custody."

Bailing Jones until he is sentenced next month, Judge Stephen Clarke told the court: "I suspect he may have known in his own mind that at some time there would be a knock on his door for these matters."

He said that Jones, who now lives at Criccieth Caravan Park in Gwynedd, would be added to the sexual offenders register and banned from working with children.

He told the defendant: "You have done the best you can to repair some of the damage caused by pleading guilty to these matters.

"I am sure that will have come as some relief to your victims and they may be able to realise at least that something has been acknowledged.

"Having said that, these are very serious offences and you know at the end of the day there is going to be a very substantial prison sentence. That is inevitable."