Four men plead guilty to child porn offences

5:08pm Tuesday 8th April 2008

FOUR Merseyside men involved in a large scale child porn ring have admitted their guilt.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that about 35,000 indecent images had been found and the main man, Roy Woollard, from Bromborough, was described as "a prolific distributor of indecent images both nationally and internationally".

The men, who range in age from 24 to 61, were told by Judge David Aubrey QC that each indecent image "represents the abuse of a child".

"Each image represents and reflects the exploitation of that child and represents the activity in which the child was forced to engage in," he added.

"Downloading such images perpetuates the market and distribution networks and encourages the making of further images."

Judge Aubrey told Woollard, who is a father-of-four, Glyn Rogers, Martin Flack and William Ebbrell: "Substantial sentences must follow."

Woollard, of Eastern Avenue, Bromborough, pleaded guilty to ten offences of making indecent images of children, eight of distributing them, one of inciting a 15-year-old boy to engage in sexual activity and one of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of the 15-year-old.

The court heard that he was involved with almost 11,000 images and some of the distribution charges involved emailing pictures to his co-accused.

Rejecting his bail application Judge Aubrey pointed out that more than 3,000 were in the two most serious categories, including dozens of sadistic images.

Rogers, 36, of Carlake Grove, Walton Grange, Walton, admitted 11 offences of making indecent images, one of distribution and one of possessing two CDs of chld porn.

Flack, 24, of Plantation Drive, Ellesmere Port, pleaded guilty to 13 offences of making such images, one of distribution and one of possession.

Ebbrell, 48, formerly of Park Walk, Newton, Chester, admitted seven of making indecent images and one of possession.

The court heard that Rogers, who did not make a bail application and was remanded in custody, admitted involvement with almost 5,000 images. Flack had 21,060 images and Ebbrell 128 images.

Ebbrell, who is now living in Rock Ferry, and Flack were both granted bail.

All four men are due for sentence next month.