The sentencing of Callum Lee Bates has been moved to next month, amid concerns for his mental health.

The 21-year-old, from Andover, pleaded guilty to breaching his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) by speaking to a 13-year-old boy on Grindr - a dating app.

In December, the case was committed for sentencing at Winchester Crown Court this morning (January 8), but Judge Susan Evans QC felt more time was needed to consider all background medical information.

Ms Lucy Conroy, defending, told the court that a clinical psychological report had been undertaken, which concluded that Bates’ faces “a number of difficulties”, but that she had been made aware that a subsequent diagnosis of autism had also been made.

Judge Evans said: “It is clearly a case which is very much on the edge in terms of what this court is going to do, and in those circumstances, it is important that the court have all of the information.”

Adjourning the sentencing until Thursday, February 4, she told Bates: “This is a serious matter and as a result, you are at risk of an immediate custodial sentence.”

She added that the adjournment was not an indication that such a prison sentence would not be imposed.

Bates was banned from having contact with children by Winchester Crown Court in April 2018 after being snared by a self-styled 'paedophile hunting' group when trying to meet a nine-year-old boy at a train station.

He remains on unconditional bail ahead of the sentencing.