Vicar Admits to Possessing More Than 8,000 Indecent Images and Videos of Children

The Express
January 4, 2014

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/452006/Vicar-admits-to-possessing-more-than-8-000-indecent-images-and-videos-of-children

Ian Hughes admitted to 16 counts involving 8,000 pieces of material [TRINITY MIRROR]

Reverend Ian Hughes, 46, admitted to 16 counts involving more than 8,000 pieces of material that police recovered from his home in Wallasey, Merseyside.

The evidence showed 6,000 images and movies were classed in the lowest category of seriousness, while 60 were put in category five, the most serious.

There were 1,500 images and videos that were categorised between two and four.

He also admitted to possessing one "extreme" image involving an animal.

Hughes appeared in the dock wearing a dark suit and tie but not with his trademark nose ring and dog collar where he pleaded guilty to all 16 charges.

Hughes was priest at St Paul's church in Wallasey [GOOGLE]

He has now been placed on the sex offenders register and is set to be sentenced on January 28.

Judge David Aubrey told him during sentencing: "You will now be subject to the relevant requirements on the register.

"The court will consider all matters on that day and determine what is the appropriate sentence.

"All sentencing options will remain open to the court."

Hughes, who was the priest in charge of the Wirral parishes Poulton and Seacombe, was suspended by the Church of England following his arrest in May last year.

He was also stopped from working at Park Primary, a school in Wallasey, where he was governor.

During his time at the church, he had helped move the congregation of St Luke's in Poulton to Park Primary.