He was 26 years old, but the girl was a minor.

Penrose found himself before Wollongong Local Court yesterday answering a number of charges related to the pair's relationship.

The court heard that Penrose struck up a friendship with the young girl in 2008 and started to email, text and chat with her online regularly. Soon after, he began encouraging her to send explicit photos of herself to him.

Facts tendered before Magistrate Michael Stoddart showed the teen obliged and sent the Unanderra man a number of photographs showing her in various states of undress.

The correspondence continued for several months, despite Penrose knowing it would be "very bad" for him if anyone found out.

In the emails Penrose told the girl she was "heaps sexy" and encouraged her to talk about her sexuality. "PS you need to delete these emails after we finish talking like you said (you would) ... if anyone finds out it would be very bad," he warned in one message.

In another email exchange, the court heard the teen told Penrose "I like you but things still scare me, coz im 15".

Police facts stated that Penrose also visited the girl while she was at home sick from school and touched her indecently.

The girl told him that she was not comfortable and he left.

Police became aware of the incidents earlier in the year after the teen confided in a counsellor.

An analysis of Penrose's laptop recovered one inappropriate image of the teen.

He was subsequently charged with one count of producing, disseminating or possessing child pornography, as well as three counts of aggravated indecent assault.

Penrose pleaded guilty to all charges.

He is due to be sentenced on October 7.