A disgraced former Gillingham vicar today admitted spying on and filming a mother and daughter and two teenage girls in his parish.

Reverend Richard Lee, 49, pleaded guilty to eight charges of voyeurism and 18 of making indecent images during a short court hearing.

Magistrates heard how Lee, who used to officiate at All Saints' Church in Hempstead before becoming vicar of two churches in Somerset, installed secret cameras to spy on his unsuspecting victims.

But the married father-of-two was rumbled when the images were discovered on his laptop - and the police were alerted.

Officers arrived at the Church of England vicar's home near Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, and arrested Lee before conducting a search of the house.

Several computers were seized containing 400 category one images, 84 category one videos - the lowest level of the scale used to measure their severity.

But Lee also had 51 category two images, three category three images and four images and one video in category four - the second highest level.

The images featured a woman and three girls aged under 16.

Lee - who has been suspended by the Church of England - today appeared at a short hearing at North Somerset Magistrates' Court to admit the 26 charges.

He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and enter guilty pleas.

Andrea Edwards, prosecuting, told the court Lee had admitted in interview that he knew his disgusting behaviour was wrong.

She said: "There is a great abuse of trust in this case.

"During the course of the interview he admitted that the images and film were for his own sexual gratification.

"He said he had viewed them for himself and he had not shared any of the images or video."

Lee carried out the offences while working at two Somerset village churches near Weston-super-Mare - St Augustine's in Locking and St Mary's in Hutton.

He moved to the area in 2006 from Hempstead alongside his wife, the Rev Anne Lee, and is now living with his mother in Bodmin, Cornwall.

Magistrates said the case was too serious for their sentencing powers and committed Lee to Bristol Crown Court.

Lee, who was granted conditional bail, remained emotionless throughout the hearing.

He will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on March 3.

"he knew that they were wrong but used them for his sexual gratification..." – andrea edwards, prosecuting