A man from Watford, described by police as a “dangerous predator”, today pleaded guilty to a series of “disturbing” child abuse charges that took place in India.

The landmark case represents the first time a Hertfordshire resident has been charged with sexually abusing a child who lives overseas.

Barry McCloud, 53, travelled to Goa several times, where he sexually abused a young girl, between 2005 and 2007.

At St Albans Crown Court he pleaded guilty to 20 charges, including the rape of child under 13, sexual assault, sexual penetration, making, taking and possessing indecent images and administering a stupefying drug to his victim so he could abuse her.

During their investigation, Hertfordshire Police officers travelled to India to interview the victim. They were backed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), specialist teams from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), the Serious and Organised Crime Agency, and a non-government agency in India called Justice and Care, which supports families in poverty who are vulnerable to abuse.

CPS District Crown Prosecutor Tamsyn Wilcox revealed that McCloud had befriended and sponsored the eldest son of a family in Goa, using his position to gain their trust and access to one of the young sisters.

She said: “The CPS worked very closely with the police, SOCA and CEOP in what was a complex investigation. Through the commitment of all agencies involved it resulted to the defendant being brought before the British Courts where he pleaded guilty.

“McCloud was charged under Section 72 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, which allows prosecutors to charge a person with an offence committed abroad if they are a British citizen or resident, and the crime would be an offence in the country in which it is committed, as well as here.

“This case sends a strong message to those British citizens or residents who think that they can sexually abuse children whilst travelling abroad and that they will never face a prosecution in England and Wales.

“The fact that McCloud pleaded guilty also means that the young victim will not have to attend court and give evidence and that the Criminal Justice System will not have to bear the cost of a trial.”

Detective Inspector Paul Doran, the Senior Investigating Officer who led the inquiry, said the success of their investigation ensured a “dangerous predator” was no longer a risk to the community.

He said: “The serious nature of the offences necessitated officers from the Constabulary travelling overseas to undertake specialist investigative work with local authorities and non-government agencies. This has ultimately secured safety and justice for the victim but additionally, reassurance for the public in Hertfordshire that this dangerous predator no longer poses a risk within our community.”

Jim Warnock, head of specialist operational support at the CEOP Centre added: “After receiving images from Hertfordshire Constabulary, specialist officers within CEOP’s victim identification team worked to identify the young girl and, once it was ascertained the victim was in India information was passed to the NJO involved and the victim was successfully located.

“This international collaboration and co-operation between Hertfordshire Constabulary, the CEOP Centre, international law enforcement agencies and NJO has not only resulted in the safeguarding of a young girl and her siblings, but also sends out a strong message to those would-be offenders that no matter where in the world you travel to abuse children, you will be brought to justice and face the penalty for your crimes.”

McCloud will be sentenced later this year.