A 37-YEAR-OLD man has been warned to expect a jail term after admitting raping a girl.

Barry Thurtell even had an indecent picture of the youngster, who was under 13 years of age, stored on his mobile phone.

As well as raping the child the Wootton Bassett man also admitted sexually assaulting her on two occasions and possessing five indecent photographs of other children.

He pleaded not guilty to two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and three of making indecent photographs of children, and the Crown did not proceed with those charges as he had pleaded guilty to the more serious offences.

Now he has been told he will almost certainly be jailed when he is sentenced by a judge at Swindon Crown Court next month.

Thurtell, of Blackthorn Close, raped the girl during the first two weeks of July last year when she was under 13.

He also admitted two counts of sexual activity with a child under 13 during the same period of time.

Thurtell pleaded guilty to taking an indecent photograph of a child between July 2006 and Sunday, July 15, last year, which was stored on his mobile.

Finally he admitted having five indecent images of children at level one, the least serious category, between March and July last year.

Chris Smyth, defending, asked the court to adjourn passing sentence on his client so a pre-sentence report could be compiled by the probation service.

He said: "While he is under no illusions about the likely sentence in this case I would invite you re-admit him to bail.

"He is anticipating a custodial sentence and has some loose ends financially to tie up and it also would help me taking instructions from him."

Mr Smyth said he was on bail on condition he lived at his Wootton Bassett home and did not have contact with the victim and had no contact with children under 18 years of age.

Judge David Smith QC said: "I will grant you bail on the basis you came here today and admitted these offences knowing there would be serious consequences and I believe you can be trusted to appear here on March 14."

Thurtell was told to register as a sex offender with the time he will remain on it determined by the final sentence.

Sue Evans, prosecuting, said the Crown would be seeking a Sexual Offences Prevention Order when he is sentenced which will restrict his liberty in the future.