A 65-YEAR-old man has admitted being in possession of more than 200,000 indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornographic images of a dog.
Alan Ford, of Sunnyside Road, Worcester, appeared at Worcester Crown Court and admitted five counts when they were put to him by the court clerk.
Ford pleaded guilty to three counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child; one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child and a further count of possession of an extreme pornographic image which portrayed a person performing a sexual act with a dog.
The court heard the offences took place between April 12, 2004, and April 8, 2021.
Police found 792 still and 202 moving category A indecent images of children - the highest level identified within the sentencing guidelines.
Ford also downloaded 1,827 still and 123 moving category B images and 211,748 still and 1,592 moving category C images.
Mark Thompson, defending, said Ford was arguing some of the images were likely to be duplicated so the actual number would be fewer, offering that as part of the basis of his plea.
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Mr Thompson said the defendant had no previous convictions and was suffering from mental health problems, asking for a pre-sentence report.
Jonathan Barker, prosecuting, said they would need time to assess whether Ford's basis of plea would be accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Ford stood as His Honour Judge Nicholas Cartwright told him to return to the court on June 2 when it is expected he will be sentenced.
Ford was told he must immediately sign the sex offenders’ register.
The judge ordered the pre-sentence report telling Ford it was a requirement of his bail that he work with the probation service in the writing of it.
The judge added: "You must not read anything into that I'm giving you bail as to your sentence - it will be up to the judge on the day."
Ford was pictured on the steps leaving the court on Monday afternoon, (April 17), rushing to get into a waiting vehicle.
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