Pair admit to child porn charges

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A former priest and a pro-paedophilia campaigner are facing jail after 50,000 images of child porn were discovered in the ex-cleric Michael Studdert's home.

Studdert, 67, formerly of Hindhead, Surrey, admitted 20 charges of making indecent images, and one each of distributing and possessing them.

Thomas O'Carroll, 61, of Leam Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, admitted two of distributing indecent images.

Both had previous similar convictions and should be jailed, the court heard.

The collection of magazines, videos and slides were discovered in a secret vault at the Studdert's home.

'Serious risk'

London's Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court heard that police counted 50,000 images, which would have taken years to collect.

Studdert committed the offences between January 2001 and the beginning of this year, the court was told.

The charges against O'Carroll, a founder member and head of the now defunct Paedophile Information Exchange, were committed between 1994 and July 2005.

Peter Zinner, prosecuting, told the court that as both men had "qualifying convictions" they should be regarded as posing a serious risk to youngsters.

Indeterminate sentences

The prosecution would argue for indeterminate sentences in order to protect the public, he said.

Both were remanded in custody for pre-sentence reports. Sentencing is due to take place on 15 December.

Four years ago O'Carroll, who has long campaigned for the legalisation of sex between adults and children, was jailed for nine months after being convicted of smuggling indecent photographs of children into the UK.

During the case at London's Southwark Crown Court his obsession with under age youngsters was branded "sick and a force for evil".

However, he subsequently successfully appealed against the sentence.