A guilt-ridden sex offender walked into a Cumbrian police station to confess – more than a decade after committing his crimes.

Craig Alan Grayson, 30, was so overcome by his feelings of guilt that he sobbed uncontrollably after surrendering himself at Workington’s police station early last year, Carlisle Crown Court was told.

He explained to the officers that he had been a 17-year-old when he committed the sex offence against a child.

The details of his surprise admission emerged during the court hearing, held a year after it was made because the defendant has been held in custody since he first spoke to officers about his crimes.

Robert Wyn Jones, prosecuting, told the court: “He walked into Workington police station and told police he had abused a young girl. He was tearful, had his head in his hands and said he had done something wrong.”

Grayson was “feeling guilty”, the court heard.

When arrested and cautioned, he was red-faced and crying.

“He said to police in the custody suite that he was sexually interested in children,” said Mr Wyn Jones.

“He confessed to having sexual feelings for children and urges to abuse them. He was very upset during the booking-in process.”

When he appeared before magistrates, Grayson admitted four counts of sexually assaulting a child aged under 13. His crimes were deemed to be so serious that he was sent to the crown court although Grayson, previously of Brakeside Gardens, Whitehaven, is yet to be sentenced.

Judge Peter Hughes QC noted that the defendant had already served the equivalent of a two-year jail term, having been remanded in custody last May. He had previously adjourned passing sentence. He had asked the Probation Service to offer its view of how Grayson could be best managed once released from prison, with appropriate safeguarding and protection measures.

Judge Hughes adjourned sentence until tomorrow because some of the relevant background information has yet to be established for the court.