A man has admitted asking a Texan teenager to send him naked pictures of herself after they met in an internet chatroom.

Michael Ross Fewtrell, of Constitution Road, Chatham, was arrested after the girl's mother contacted police when she found the pictures on a computer.

Kent Police were contacted by US Homeland Security to investigate the 28-year-old.

Fewtrell pleaded guilty to inciting a 16-year-old to become involved in pornography when he appeared before Medway magistrates.

Matthew Quantrill, prosecuting, said: "This matter came to light when police received contact from the US security service about reports from the parents of a 16-year-old girl in Texas exchanging sexual emails."

The court heard the pair had started talking after meeting in a chatroom for over-18s. Fewtrell thought she was 18, but later learnt she had lied.

Believing the age of consent to be 16, he had continued their relationship.

Magistrates were told Fewtrell had started talking to the girl soon after he separated from his partner.

Mr Quantrill added: "He often chats to strangers on the internet. It isn't always sexual. He finds it an escape from reality."

The court heard the former Upbury Manor pupil became terrified of the consequences after finding out it was illegal.

When police searched his computer, they found no images of girls under 18 and magistrates were told he had no previous convictions.

Since being arrested, Fewtrell has not seen his four-year-old daughter and also became unemployed after coming to a mutual decision with his former employees to terminate his contract.

He is due to be sentenced at a later date to allow for probation reports.