By Staff Reporter

Last updated 11:50, Wednesday, 23 July 2008

A middle-aged man who had sex with a under-age girl was caught because he entered notes in his diary to mark every occasion he did so, a court has heard.

The first time Howard Crellin slept with the girl he wrote it up in his diary, and made similar notes on five subsequent occasions.

Carlisle Crown Court heard yesterday that Crellin was arrested after one of the girl’s friends became suspicious of their relationship after seeing “inappropriate text messages” from him on her mobile.

At first the twice-married 45-year-old denied he had done anything wrong and it was only after the police confronted him with his diary that he admitted what he had been doing.

Crellin, who used to live in Kersey Road, Thornhill, Egremont, until a fire forced him to live in a caravan instead, pleaded guilty to six charges of sexual activity with a child.

He faces a maximum possible sentence of 14 years in prison.

Prosecuting counsel Hilary Manley said Crellin eventually admitted he had had sex with the teenager, saying it was only because she was “desperate” to have a baby.

He said he made the notes in his diary so she would be able to work out when any baby was due.

Defence barrister Kim Whittlestone said neither the fact that he had been in a relationship with the girl nor that he had a pornographic DVD on a schoolgirl theme should be taken as a sign that he had “any unhealthy interest” in children.

The case was adjourned to give the prosecution more time to find out what affect Crellin’s behaviour has had on the girl, who has not become pregnant.

He will probably be sentenced tomorrow.