A MAN has admitted exporting telescopic firearms sights to Iran.

Andrew Faulkner, 42, admitted being knowingly concerned with the exportation or attempted exportation of optical sights for firearms with intent to evade prohibition.

Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith, who will sentence Faulkner on September 8, said: "It's difficult to see how it could be anything other than a custodial sentence. It's a question of how long."

A total of 100 high-spec German-manufactured Schmidt and Bender sights, worth £105,000, were seized at Heathrow Airport on February 18 last year.

Faulkner, formerly of Spalding, changed his plea on what should have been the first day of his trial yesterday at Southwark Crown Court.

But he denies conspiring with others between October 21, 2008, and February 19 last year to export both optical sights for firearms and life rafts to Iran. The judge ordered both counts to lie on file.

Nicholas Bleaney, defending Faulkner, said that in recent months his client has been working abroad providing security for BBC cameramen in difficult circumstances.

Faulkner was granted conditional bail while pre-sentence reports are prepared.