A Kent scout leader is facing sentence after admitting indecency with a 12-year-old boy.

Shaun Clark, of the 2nd Cliffe troop, pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault on a child under 13 between January 1 2007 and July 1 last year.

The prosecution accepted his not guilty plea to another sexual assault charge on the same boy.

Michael Haynes, defending, said the assaults were "just about as minor as one can get". The prosecution, he said, would have been in some difficulty if it were not for his police interview.

"The touching involved simple rubbing of the chest or stomach area of the boy on two occasions, both when other people were present, in circumstances he accepted gave him some minor sexual pleasure," he told a judge at Maidstone Crown Court.

"The incidents are right on the borderline of whether they would be a criminal offence at all. He has an impeccable background."

Mr Haynes said Clark, of Church Street, Cliffe, acted for an organisation which would result in him losing his job.

Clark, 35, did not want the victim and another young boy to have to go to court to give evidence.

Adjourning sentence until April 16 for reports and granting conditional bail, Judge Jeremy Carey said: "The judge may take the view in due course it crosses the custody threshold."

He told Clark: "You have pleaded guilty to two sexual offences. You are now a sex offender. You have a statutory obligation, irrespective of what this court does by way of sentence, to register as such.

"Do not make any assumptions about the outcome of this case, except that you should be ready for all eventualities. An assessment of your criminality will be made on April 16."