Paedophile ring smashed by police
CEOP says it saved 31 children from possible abuse
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.
Cox, of Buxall, Suffolk, ran a website enabling the exchange images of abuse.
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.
Anybody who thinks they can carry out such horrific activities undetected is in for a rude awakening
Jim Gamble
CEOP
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.
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.
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".
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.
"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.
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.
BBC.co.uk
CEOP says it saved 31 children from possible abuse
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.
Cox, of Buxall, Suffolk, ran a website enabling the exchange images of abuse.
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.
Anybody who thinks they can carry out such horrific activities undetected is in for a rude awakening
Jim Gamble
CEOP
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.
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.
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".
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.
"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.
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.
BBC.co.uk
