Serial child killer Robert Black prowled crowded beaches hunting out opportunities to spy on and play with young girls, his latest murder trial has heard.
The notorious Scottish paedophile said he would join in building sand castles or digging holes in an effort to get close to the unsuspecting youngsters.
In police interview tapes played to the jury at Armagh Crown Court, the triple child murderer also revealed how he would park up on roadsides to watch girls from his delivery van, making up excuses to talk to them.
Black, 64, is on trial accused of abducting and murdering nine-year-old Jennifer Cardy in Northern Ireland 30 years ago. He denies the charges.
In the interviews with detectives investigating Jennifer's case, Black also denied involvement in the three murders he was convicted of in 1994, suggesting there was a conspiracy against him.
But during some of those recorded exchanges in 1996 and 2005, the killer did concede he had a strong sexual interest in young girls and would actively seek them out.
Black showed no emotion from the dock as his sordid admissions were played to a silent court room.
Jennifer's parents Andy and Patricia and her older brother Philip listened from the public gallery.
Black told detectives he would introduce himself to groups of children on beaches.
"If they were burying each other in the sand I might join in or something like that," he said.