A paedophile travelled from Essex to Swindon with a camcorder, condoms and a picture of his dead wife after arranging to meet what he thought was a 10-year-old for sex, a court heard.

Graham Turpin, 67, of Quendon, Essex, had spent three months chatting to a woman online, arranging to have sex with her young daughter.

But the mum was a fiction, prosecutor Kate Prince told Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court. She was in fact a law enforcement agency officer trapping paedophiles online.

On Tuesday, Turpin was arrested in Swindon having travelled from his home in Essex. With him was a mobile phone, computer, camcorder, tripod, condoms, lubricant, a photograph of his dead wife and £1,500 cash.

Ms Prince said the defendant had apparently been planning to video the sex he planned to have with the woman’s 10-year-old.

“Clearly it’s a very serious matter and we would agree it is a matter that should be sentenced in the crown court,” she said.

Luke Jameson, defending, said his client was a man of previous good character and was remorseful. The suggestion of sexual activity was instigated by the undercover officer. No real child was involved.

Turpin pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

District Judge Tim Pattinson granted him bail to appear before Swindon Crown Court on Friday, July 3. He ordered a pre-sentence report from the probation service.

The judge said: “I will in this particular case grant unconditional bail. But make no mistake: if there is failure to attend that court in Swindon or a further offence there will be a remand in custody.”

According to Sentencing Council guidelines, punishment for the offence to which Turpin has pleaded guilty could see him sentenced to up to 14 years behind bars.