A SEX offender has admitted to so-called 'sexting' a female whom he believed to be 14 years of age.

Thomas Stevenson, 54, sent sexualised messages to the woman via social media on various occasions over a period spanning three months.

He was absent from a first calling of the case at Greenock Sheriff Court on Friday but pleaded guilty by letter.

Stevenson, of Inverkip Road, committed the offence between October 18 and December 12 last year.

The charge against him states that he did it 'for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification' in an attempt to 'communicate indecently with an older child'.

He has been immediately placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

Sheriff Joseph Hughes deferred sentence until January 20 for Stevenson's personal appearance in court.