A 43-year-old man sexually abused an 11-year-old after allegedly luring her to his flat.

Vincent O’Halloran is said to have called out to the child as she passed his Liden home on August 15.

When the girl went into the building he made inappropriate comments to her before carrying out the sexual assault.

Although he has admitted committing the offence, O’Halloran entered a basis of plea, explaining his view of events, which prosecutors say they may not accept.

Judge Euan Ambrose, sitting at Swindon Crown Court, gave them time to consider whether they want a trial of issue, where a judge will rule on what happened.

O’Halloran, of Sheringham Court, admitted a single charge of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13. He must now register as a sex offender and the total time he will remain on the list will be decided by the sentence he receives.

Phillip Warren, for the Crown, said of the plea: “That has been tended on a basis that contains four clauses. I would ask for 14 days to consider that basis please.”

He said there is CCTV footage of the girl, who was a stranger to O’Halloran, going into the block of flats and that needed to be looked at, as well as taking account of the views of the victim.

The case was adjourned until November 2 and O’Halloran was remanded in custody until then.