A Scout leader has admitted looking at and downloading indecent images of children and will “never be able to volunteer” with the organisation again.

Christopher McCann, who was a leader for the 3rd Sevenoaks Scout group, admitted he had downloaded the images, including some of the worst kind, after police raided his home in Sevenoaks in April last year.

McCann, who used to lead the Scout group based in Bradbourne Vale Road, Sevenoaks, even told officers who went to his home that he had probably been on a website he was not meant to be on.

His laptop was seized and analysis of the device showed he had seven of the worst kind of images, category A, eight category B images, as well as seven category C images.

The 61-year-old was charged with three counts of making indecent photographs of children.

McCann, of Moor Road, Sevenoaks, pleaded guilty to all three offences when he appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on February 19.

District Judge Stephen Leake heard his home was raided after police received information that indecent images were being downloaded from his address.

Sidumiso Moyo, prosecuting, told the court officers went to his home on April 6, last year.

She added: “He said to officers, ‘I think I probably have, on one occasion been on a site I wasn’t meant to, it was a couple of weekends ago’.”

The prosecutor also told the judge McCann was of previous good character.

Judge Leake decided to order a pre-sentencing report on McCann, who was granted bail and will return to the same court on March 18 to hear his fate.

After the case, a Scout Association spokesman said: “The Scout Association is aware of the case involving Christopher McCann and we have cooperated fully with the statutory authorities throughout the investigation.

“There is no indication that Mr McCann’s crimes involved Scouting, he was suspended as soon as we were made aware of the investigation and he will never be able to volunteer with the Scout Movement again.

“The safety of young people is our number one priority and we condemn the crimes committed by Mr McCann.

“We carry out a stringent vetting of all adults who work with young people and require them to work to a strict code of practice.”