By John Oates for The
Register.
This story has been reproduced with permission.
The 10 month investigation involved police forces in 35
countries. Investigators have already rescued 31 children from
abuse. Police investigations continue against 200 British
suspects.
Timothy David Martyn Cox, a 27-year-old man from Buxhall,
Suffolk, has been convicted of nine offences of Possession or
Distribution of Indecent Images of Children. He awaits sentencing
at Ipswich Crown Court. Cox hosted an internet chatroom, called
"Kids the Light of Our Lives!" from his home, which was used to
trade images and videos of children being assaulted.
The operation was led the Child Exploitation and Online
Protection Centre (CEOP). CEOP was first alerted by Canadian police
and arrested Cox on 28 September, 2006. Undercover officers from
CEOP and the Toronto Police then posed as Cox, using his online
identity of Son_of_god, for 10 days to gather evidence against
others using his site.
Cox's computer contained almost 76,000 illegal images, as well
as evidence that he had traded over 11,000 images.
CEOP CEO Jim Gamble said: "From the apparent 'safety' of his
home, Cox spent hours each day planning, promoting and encouraging
the abuse and exploitation of innocent young victims. 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.
"Any individual who thinks they carry out such horrific
activities undetected is in for a very rude awakening."
The full CEOP statement is here.
© The Register
2007
