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| Paedophile ring smashed by police | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police have smashed a global child abuse network which was co-ordinated through a UK-based internet site, a child protection agency has said. | |
| The paedophile ring was run by Timothy Cox, 27, who is due to be sentenced for child porn offences. | |
| Agencies in 35 countries, led by the UK Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre (CEOP), investigated more than 700 suspects - 200 in the UK. | Agencies in 35 countries, led by the UK Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre (CEOP), investigated more than 700 suspects - 200 in the UK. |
| Cox, of Buxall, Suffolk, ran a website enabling the exchange images of abuse. | |
| Chatroom infiltration | Chatroom infiltration |
| The internet chatroom, called "Kids the Light of Our Lives", was used by paedophiles to exchange images and videos of children being abused. | The internet chatroom, called "Kids the Light of Our Lives", was used by paedophiles to exchange images and videos of children being abused. |
| Anybody who thinks they can carry out such horrific activities undetected is in for a rude awakening Jim GambleCEOP | Anybody who thinks they can carry out such horrific activities undetected is in for a rude awakening Jim GambleCEOP |
| CEOP said Cox hosted the website using the pseudonym "Son of God" - a reference to "G.O.D", the online identity of the owner of another paedophile site shut down by police last year. | |
| More than 75,000 indecent and explicit images were found on Cox's computer and there was evidence that he had supplied more than 11,000 images to other site users. | More than 75,000 indecent and explicit images were found on Cox's computer and there was evidence that he had supplied more than 11,000 images to other site users. |
| Ian Robertson of CEOP told BBC News 24 that the ages of the children whose images were exchanged on the site ranged from babies to teenagers. | |
| After he was arrested in September 2006, undercover officers spent 10 days infiltrating the chatroom, assuming his identity to collect evidence about other users. | |
| When Cox was arrested, undercover officers placed a message online saying he had gone for his tea and would be back in half an hour to avoid raising suspicions. | |
| As many as 70 online paedophiles were waiting to download images of abuse. | |
| Investigators from the Australian Federal Police, the US Department of Homeland Security and Toronto Police took part in the online surveillance operation. | |
| In total, 31 children were saved as a result of the investigation, CEOP said. | |
| Cox pleaded guilty to nine offences at an earlier hearing and will be sentenced later at Ipswich Crown Court. | Cox pleaded guilty to nine offences at an earlier hearing and will be sentenced later at Ipswich Crown Court. |
| He lived with his parents and his sister in a large farmhouse and worked at the family's micro-brewery. The internet website was operated from his bedroom. | |
| 'Horrific activities' | |
| Jim Gamble of CEOP said his capture "sends a powerful warning to those using the internet to facilitate the sexual exploitation of children". | Jim Gamble of CEOP said his capture "sends a powerful warning to those using the internet to facilitate the sexual exploitation of children". |
| He added: "From the apparent 'safety' of his home, Cox spent hours each day planning, promoting and encouraging the abuse and exploitation of children. | He added: "From the apparent 'safety' of his home, Cox spent hours each day planning, promoting and encouraging the abuse and exploitation of children. |
| "In doing so he provided a service to hundreds of like-minded individuals, enabling those with a sexual interest in children to share indecent images and discuss further plans for abuse. | "In doing so he provided a service to hundreds of like-minded individuals, enabling those with a sexual interest in children to share indecent images and discuss further plans for abuse. |
| "Anybody who thinks they can carry out such horrific activities undetected is in for a rude awakening." | "Anybody who thinks they can carry out such horrific activities undetected is in for a rude awakening." |
| Cox had been identified after intelligence connecting the site to the UK was passed to CEOP by Canadian investigators. | Cox had been identified after intelligence connecting the site to the UK was passed to CEOP by Canadian investigators. |
| The investigation uncovered another member of the same ring, Gordon Mackintosh from Hertfordshire, who attempted to keep the website going after Cox was arrested. M | |
| Mackintosh, 33, used the names "silentblackheart" and "lust4skoolgurls". More than 5,000 images were found on his computer as well as 392 indecent movie files. | |
| He pleaded guilty to 27 charges of making, possessing and distributing the material and is due to be sentenced on June 29. |