EX-MP ADMITS CHILD SEX OFFENCE

FORMER Labour MP Eric Joyce is facing jail and has been ordered to sign the sex offenders register after he admitted having an indecent image of a child.

The 59-year-old ( left), who was MP for Falkirk in Scotland between 2000 and 2012, pleaded guilty at Ipswich Crown Court to the offence, which took place between 2013 and 2018.

Judge Emma Peters said the single 51-second film, found on a device, “depicts a number of children”.

“Some are quite young, one is said to be 12 months old,” she said. “Clearly a category A movie.”

She said Joyce, who appeared at court in person, “says he accessed it via an email which he says was a spam email”.

“At the time he was drinking heavily and he has now undergone work with a psychotherapist,” the judge said, as she ordered that a report be prepared before Joyce is sentenced on August 7.

Judge Peters warned the former shadow minister, of Worlingworth, Suffolk, that the offence crosses the custody threshold.

She said : “It’s going to be a question of whether it’s immediate or suspended.

“You will be required to acknowledging that you are immediately on the sex offenders register.”