More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A shamed youth sports worker is facing sentence after admitting possessing more than 1,200 indecent images of children.
Former Thanet School Games organiser Phil Pittock pleaded guilty to a string of charges at Canterbury Crown Court.
The 50-year-old, whose wife was in court to hear his pleas, has been added to the sex offenders' register and was granted conditional bail ahead of sentence.
Pittcok, of Brandon Way, Birchington, admitted possessing 1,266 indecent images of children and three like charges on the same date, January 15.
They included counts of possessing two indecent photos of a child, eight indecent video clips of a child and a further charge of possessing an indecent video clip of a child.
Pittock also pleaded guilty to making an indecent image of a child between October 1, 2010 and January 1, 2013.
He took on his Thanet School Games organiser role in September 2011, based at the Ursuline College, in Westgate.
In October 2012, Pittock had been presented with a gold medal for bringing together Inspire PRIDE Awards in Thanet and the summer 2012 schools engagement programme.
His role involved arranging inter-school competitions in different sports, many as local qualifiers for the bi-annual Kent School Games.
He also supported the young leaders programme, the 2012 young ambassadors programme and the Kent County Council schools engagement programme. He had worked closely with Thanet District Council.
News of the charges against him sent huge shockwaves through the Thanet community, particularly in schools and sporting organisations. People with whom he had worked closely, were stunned.
Pittock had been a member of the long-established Thanet Roadrunners Athletic Club, but then broke away and was chairman of Thanet Athletics Club.
Earlier this month, Thanet Roadrunners published a statement on its website saying the club "would like to emphasise that they are, and always have been, a completely separate club to Thanet Athletics Club".
Club president Darek Sackett, a founder of Thanet Roadrunners AC 32 years ago, said: "In December 2012/January 2013 Phil Pittock went off the scene and nobody would tell us what was going on. I have worked with him for many years and could not believe it when I heard the news."
A Kent County Council spokesman said: "Phil Pittock has held various roles within Kent, some of these involved working with, and advising schools.
"The appropriate checks had been carried out prior to his appointment and kept up to date.
"These offences were not carried out while he was at work and as soon as we were made aware of the offences we took immediate protective measures, within our role of safeguarding, although he was not employed by us at the time.
"We are reassured the courts are taking appropriate action."
The court heard Pittock, who grew up in Thanet, is of previous good character.
A judge granted him conditional bail and adjourned sentencing for probation reports.
