A 58-year-old paedophile who abducted and sexually assaulted a boy has been warned he could be facing a life sentence.

Repeat offender John Thomas was told by a judge that if he was not locked up for life, he could be detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Thomas, of Kings Road, Minster, claimed he heard voices telling him to abduct a child.

He admitted two charges of sexual assault on a child under 13 and abduction on October 6 last year.

Entering the pleas during a TV link from Elmley Prison, Thomas also admitted failing to comply with a sex offender order by not telling police his address within three days of being released from a jail sentence.

Barry Gregory, prosecuting, said Thomas had 19 convictions for sexual offences.

Michael Haynes, defending, told Judge Andrew Patience, QC: "As early as 1966 he received a hospital order. He was in hospital for eight years.

"As he explained to the police, he has trouble with voices telling him to abduct a child.

"He already wants help, because he knows that when he is released those voices will tell him to do the same thing again, so there clearly is a risk."

Adjourning sentence until February 24 for a psychiatric report, the judge said he wanted the question of risk to the public to be addressed.

"It falls to me to decide whether it should be a life sentence - imprisonment for public protection - or a hospital order," he added.