THE sentencing of former mayor of St Helens John Beirne for a string of historic sex offences has been rescheduled until Monday next week (July 3).

Beirne, 56, pleaded guilty to eight of the 15 charges he faced at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, June 7. 

He pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to sex offences with four boys aged between eight and 12 between May 1975 and February 1980.

Beirne was a teenager at the time of the offences.

His sentencing had initially been scheduled for tomorrow (June 28) but has been put back.

The former mayor was a St Helens councillor for several decades and also stood in three general elections for the Liberal Democrats and one for UKIP.

Following his guilty plea, Beirne, of Blackdown Grove, Parr, St Helens, was warned by Judge Robert Warnock that all sentencing options will be open.

He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register.

The other charges involving the boys, which he denies, have been laid on the file and will not be proceeded with at the next hearing.