The man responsible for attacking a journalist with such ferocity that her face needed rebuilding by plastic surgeons yesterday admitted the crime in court.

Lee Thomas Scott left Newcastle Journal sub-editor Christine Harle, (50), unconscious and with almost every bone in her face shattered.

Yesterday, the 23-year-old, originally from Gateshead but living in Ripley, pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court to inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent. He appeared by video link from prison, where he was again remanded in custody.

He also admitted theft, sex assault on another woman and common assault of a third. All of the attacks took place on the night of January 10 and the early hours of January 11 in Newcastle.

Judge Beatrice Bolton adjourned sentencing for probation reports to be prepared.

The court was told how Scott already had a history of sexually motivated violence and had been jailed for six years previously.

And he had already staged a sex assault on a stranger the night he attacked Christine in Newcastle’s Fenkle Street car park.

He attacked Christine after she left her shift at the Journal office in the Groat Market at about 1.20am.

Scott had head-butted her and started to throttle her before finally leaving her unconscious. He fled with her bag but the events had been captured on CCTV cameras.

Christine suffered extensive head and facial injuries and underwent reconstructive face surgery in Newcastle General Hospital.

Sister paper the Evening Chronicle published CCTV images of a man alleged to be the prime suspect in the attacks, and video footage taken from the Fenkle Street car park was posted on its website as police appealed for information to identify the suspect.