A FAST food worker who continued working for McDonald's after police raised concerns about his behaviour was later exposed as a child sex pervert.

A court heard that officers recovered pornographic images of children from a computer when they raided the Clitheroe home of Russell Wilkinson a few weeks later.

And the court heard that they also discovered names and addresses of children who had entered competitions at the fast food outlet he worked at, off the A59 at Barrow near Whalley.

The revelations come just days after another McDonald's worker, at the Rising Bridge outlet, admitted 28 charges of possessing indecent images of children.

Wilkinson, 32, of Croft Street, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to six charges of making indecent photographs of teenage boys.

Three other charges, one of them relating to 21 images, were dismissed after the prosecution offered no evidence.

He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

After the case, McDonald's denied it had failed to act swiftly enough - and also refuted allegations made in court that Wilkinson had been employed as a children's party organiser.

Pat Bramley, prosecuting, told Blackburn magistrates that police had concerns about Wilkinson which led to them applying for a search warrant at his home, which was executed in October.

She said that there had been concerns reported to the police about his "inappropriate" behaviour with children.

She said: "The police were particularly concerned because the defendant was working at McDonald's near Clitheroe where he was responsible for organising children's parties.

"McDonald's had been informed that the police thought this was ill-advised but they had not reacted to this advice.

"The police were aware the defendant had been seen playing hide and seek with children in the grounds of Clitheroe Castle.

"When he was arrested in connection with the computer images the names and addresses of children who had entered competitions at McDonald's were also found."

After the case, a McDonald's spokesman said: "We can confirm that Russell Wilkinson was employed by McDonald's as an standard staff member.

"He was not, as has been suggested, a party organiser, as the restaurant he was employed in did not offer children's parties to customers.

"As soon as we were informed that he had been officially charged, his employment was, in line with company disciplinary policy, immediately suspended.

"Mr Wilkinson is no longer employed by McDonald's.

"McDonald's have very strict procedures and controls in place for all staff whose day-to-day activity involves interaction with customers."

She said that Wilkinson had worked throughout the restaurant.

The spokesman said that concerns were raised by the police four weeks before he was arrested.

But she added: "The police were unable to give us any firm allegations about his behaviour.

"We made management aware of the concerns and they were told to remain vigilant.

"Mr Wilkinson had no criminal record and our hands were tied by employment laws until he was charged."

One McDonald's customer today said she was "horrified" to hear that Wilkinson had been working at the fast food restaurant.

The mum of two, 29, from Clitheroe, who asked not to be named said: "He must have served a lot of young children.

"It's really worrying when you think about it."

Another mum of one, 31, said: "It's quite shocking, but I'm glad he's been caught and doesn't work there anymore.

"People with pictures of children like that are sick."

At court Miss Bramley said when Wilkinson is sentenced the prosecution would be applying for a Sexual Offences Prevention Order which will limit Wilkinson's involvement with children.

He was remanded on bail with conditions that he has no contact with children under the age of 16 and does not allow any children under 16 into his home.

Lee Robert-Shaw, who McDonald's have confirmed worked at McDonald's Rising Bridge, at the time of his offences, pleaded guilty to 28 charges of making an indecent image of a child when he appeared at Burnley Crown Court earlier this week.

Police said a proportion of the 110 images and videos were of the most serious level five category.