Sex attacker admitted to raping a young girl in Sunderland when he was given a lie detector test by police

David Nicholson was given a community order in 2018 after he travelled to Sunderland to meet a 13-year-old girl he believed he had been chatting to online, but was instead confronted by vigilante group Dark Justice, who had set up the fake profile.

The 46-year-old, who had 16 illegal images of children on his phone, was asked by the police during the arrest and investigation process if he would participate in a polygraph test.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Nicholson agreed and confessed during the lie detector questioning that he had attacked a girl, in his past, while he was living in a bedsit in Sunderland, and told detectives who she was.

The court heard the victim, who is now an adult, was interviewed by detectives and found the courage to share sickening details of her shocking ordeal.

Nicholson, now of Gatacre Street, Blyth, Northumberland, admitted rape and three offences of indecent assault.

He will be sentenced on Thursday and has been remanded in custody.

The victim said in her impact statement she has managed to make a "healthy life" for herself and is proud of all she has achieved, despite her traumatic past.

She said: "He stole my childhood but he has not stolen my adulthood."

Liam O'Brien, defending, said Nicholson had an unhappy childhood and was bullied.

Mr O'Brien said: "He cannot take back what he has done, but he does apologise for it. There appears to be genuine expressions of remorse."