A MAN with an underwear fetish has appeared in York Crown Court after admitting making an indecent film of an eight-year-old girl.

Terence Amesbury, 48, pleaded guilty to making and possessing child pornography and also admitted a charge of indecent assault.

Amesbury, previously of Limetree Avenue, New Earswick, was visibly upset as the prosecution outlined the details of the offence before Judge Jim Spencer QC.

Jeremy Hill-Baker, prosecuting, explained that Amesbury had filmed the girl in her mother's underwear as she played dress-up with her brothers at New Year.

The indecent assault occurred when he filmed her in a way which caused her a great deal of distress.

He later filmed the girl beneath a table and while she played in a Wendy house without her knowledge.

Amesbury then copied the images on to VHS so that they ran on a loop.

When questioned by police, Amesbury told officers he had felt a sudden urge to film the girl and the video was for his own gratification.

He admitted that he had suffered from an underwear fetish for a long time which had led to a conviction for looking up a woman's skirt in 1978.

Alasdair Campbell, representing Amesbury, said the incident was a one-off in relation to young girls and had caused a rift between Amesbury and his family.

His fiance had also left him and he had given up his home to live in Newcastle as part of his bail conditions.

On three occasions Amesbury had attempted or thought about suicide because he felt unable to live with the shame and the guilt.

Mr Campbell said Amesbury was hoping to receive help for his fetish.

"He had never spoken to anyone about it before. It is a problem he is acutely aware of, but has never felt able to deal with."

Judge Simpson agreed to adjourn sentence for four weeks to allow for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Amesbury remains on conditional bail until June 13.

Updated: 09:57 Saturday, May 03, 2003