A MAN at the centre of a paedophile ring which distributed indecent images of children admitted today sending pictures around the UK using mobile phones.
A MAN at the centre of a paedophile ring which distributed indecent images of children admitted today sending pictures around the UK using mobile phones.
Carl Gardner, of Norwich. sent hundreds of pictures of children to other paedophiles around England, Scotland and Wales.
Police said eight other suspected offenders linked to Gardner have so far been captured.
The 30-year-old used four mobile phones and 28 sim cards to send out the pictures.
Today at Norwich Crown Court he admitted 10 counts of making indecent images, one of possessing extreme pornography and one of possessing indecent images with a view to distribute.
A spokesman for Norfolk Police said the investigation was sparked when officers
were tipped off about a conversation on a chat site about the abuse of boys.
“Gardner was trying to capture the market by posing as three different
characters using various chat sites,” said Detective Constable Jamie Hollis.
“He posed as a father of four boys, a mother and a young child.
“His idea was to try and make friends and enter into conversations, testing the water to find
like-minded people.
“He eventually would lead them into discussions of an inappropriate nature.
“This then went on to the exchange of images.
“We realised this wasn't one person, it was a paedophile ring, a hub, and he was at the centre of it. It was a ripple effect.”
Gardner will be sentenced on April 6.
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