A 42-year-old man has admitted asking an underage girl to send him naked images before describing sexual acts he wished to carry out.

Benjamin Robert Heal, whose address was given as Robin Way in Stalbridge, appeared before Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on Friday, February 3.

Heal had previously pleaded not guilty to the offence of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and opted for a summary trial but, four days before his trial was due to go ahead, changed his plea to guilty.

The charge relates to an offence between August 9 and August 17 in 2021 when Heal communicated, ‘for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification’ with the online profile of a girl under the age of 16 and who he did not reasonably believe to be over the age of 16.

Court papers from Heal's first appearance said he had "encourage(d) her to make a communication that was sexual, namely request naked images from the profile and describe sexual acts that you wished to carry out."

Heal will be sentenced at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, March 30 with the case adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared by probation - all options, including custody, will be explored in the report.