Matthew Sherwood, a convicted sex offender, attempted to conceal himself from the public as he registered as a sex offender at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Sherwood, 37, of Mandalay Drive, Norton, Worcester, was seen ducking behind three supporters, wearing a baseball cap and a Covid mask, as he made his way to the police station.

Last week, Sherwood admitted to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity. He also pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children.

The charges stem from incidents that occurred between January 31, 2020, and February 8, 2020, and between April 12, 2020, and June 6, 2020. The court heard that Sherwood's attempts to communicate with a child were actually with a 'decoy,' such as a paedophile hunter group or a police officer using a fake profile.

Sherwood was granted unconditional bail and will appear at Worcester Crown Court on February 25, 2023, for sentencing. Magistrates declined jurisdiction for the case due to its serious nature and requested a pre-sentence report from the probation service.

A sexual harm prevention order will also be imposed by the Crown Court. Sherwood was instructed to sign on as a sex offender within three days of the hearing.