A TEACHER has admitted to sending sexually explicit messages to teenage girls in lockdown.

Disgraced Calum Lacey appeared at Southampton Magistrates' Court where he admitted two charges relating to two girls during the first Covid lockdown.

It was a time when police and safeguarding experts had warned of an anticipated spike in online sexual abuse perpetrated by predatory paedophiles.

But it has now emerged that Lacey - a trusted teacher - was among the perverts preying on school-aged children confined to their homes as the first wave of Covid swept Britain.

READ MORE: Eastleigh man sexually assaulted woman as she slept

The court heard how Lacey, 33, of Station Road, Southampton, had been talking with the girls online.

But the conversation turned sexual when he began asking about their sexual activities.

He also offered to send naked images of himself, the court heard.

Lacey admitted to causing or inciting a girl to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity.

He also admitted another charge relating to causing or inciting sexual activity with a teenage girl, and engaging in sexual communications with a child.

However, magistrates said his offending was outside the court's sentencing powers. He will be sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on December 20.

Lacey, who has no previous convictions, was granted bail but was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register.

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