A 66-year-old Ipswich man who has admitted a string of child sex offences dating back to the mid-1970s has been warned he is likely to be jailed when he is sentenced next month.

Laurence Englefield, of Alderlee, off Stoke Park Drive, pleaded guilty at Ipswich Crown Court today to six offences of indecent assault on a girl, one offence of gross indecency and one offence of attempted rape. The offences took place between July 1976 and September 1985.

Judge Martyn Levett adjourned sentence until June 14, telling Englefield: “These are serious matters and I can assure you that the most likely sentence is one of imprisonment.”

He ordered Englefield to sign the sex offenders’ register.

Jane Oldfield, prosecuting, told the court she would be asking for a sexual harm prevention order to be made at the sentencing hearing which is expected to last over an hour.