1 May 2012 Last updated at 09:54 ET

PCSO Gary Hastings faces jail for child sex offences

A former police community support officer (PCSO) who has admitted child sex offences has been told by a judge he faces a "significant" jail sentence.

Gary Hastings, 48, of Wright Street, Hull, pleaded guilty at York Crown Court on Tuesday to seven counts of sexual activity with two children.

He denied causing or inciting child prostitution or pornography. Those charges were allowed to lie on file.

Judge Stephen Ashurst refused bail and said a jail term was "inevitable".

Hastings will be sentenced at York Crown Court on 8 June.

Vetting procedures

The judge told him: "You have pleaded guilty to seven out of nine counts involving extremely grave behaviour against young men.

"The nature of these offences you have committed is such that a significant custodial sentence is inevitable."

Humberside Police said Hastings joined the force in 2008 and served as a PCSO in Immingham, North East Lincolnshire "after undergoing standard vetting procedures for this role".

At an earlier hearing, the court was told the offences took place between November 2007 and August 2010.

Hastings was suspended by Humberside Police last August and resigned in January.

Humberside Police said in a statement: "Gary Hastings was suspended in August 2011 following an investigation by the Humberside Police Professional Standards Branch.

"He later tendered his resignation which came into effect at the end of January 2012 and is, therefore, no longer an employee of Humberside Police."