A "predatory paedophile" has pleaded guilty to a string of sexual offences against children, including 10 counts of rape.

Michael D'Costa, 64, of Farnborough Close, Wembley, appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday (April 17), charged with sexual offences against children.

D'Costa was arrested after an incident in which a man in a wheelchair approached a 13-year-old girl, on March 2 last year, in an Asda car park at the Chalkhill Estate, in Wembley.

The man showed her an explicit video of himself engaged in a sexual act with a child and offered the girl money to have sex with him at his flat, but she refused.

A teacher of the girl contacted police after overhearing her discussing what had happened.

Officers investigated the allegations and visited D'Costa's home after his description matched that of the suspect.

At D'Costa's address, officers found a large amount of electrical equipment, including televisions, laptops, computers, mobile phones and internal and external CCTV cameras.

D'Costa accepted that he was the man in the car park, in March, saying he had also been in relationships with other young children. He was arrested and taken into custody.

A search also found diaries of his sexual interaction with three girls over a number of years, as well as video footage. The accounts included the identity of the three victims and officers were able to track them down.

One of the victims was the same girl approached in the Asda car park.

On December 6, D'Costa was charged and remanded into custody.

Last week, he pleaded guilty to five counts of rape, five counts of rape of a child under 13, eight counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, three counts of assault on a child under 13 by penetration, and two counts of attempted rape of a child under 13.

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Neil John, of the Met's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "D'Costa is a predatory paedophile who kept a sickening account of his abuse on his young victims.

"Despite his first victim not wishing to pursue this matter, officers launched an investigation and this case demonstrates the Met's commitment to bringing to justice those who commit such abhorrent crimes against children.

"We are appealing to the public in case there are any further victims of D'Costa's abuse. Please come forward."

D'Costa will be sentenced on June 19 at Isleworth Crown Court.