A convicted sex offender who molested a teen boy on New Years’ Day has been warned to expect jail.

Steven Gardner, 43, of Summerleaze, Trowbridge, had been due to stand trial this week on allegations of attempted oral rape and sexual assault. The offences were alleged to have been committed on January 1 this year.

However, on the day his trial was due to begin he pleaded guilty to sexual assault. He had previously denied the oral rape charge.

Prosecutor Ian Fenny told Swindon Crown Court the plea to sexual assault was acceptable to the Crown – sparing Gardner’s young victim, who is in his early teens, from having to go through the ordeal of giving evidence before a jury.

The defendant was convicted of a sexual offence in 2006, although the nature of the conviction was not explained in court.

Judge Peter Crabtree remanded Gardner in custody and ordered a pre-sentence report. He told the man, who appeared in the dock wearing a grey t-shirt: “It’s serious. The starting point is custody.”

Gardner will be sentenced on September 8.