Fraudster admits child sexual abuse offences

A fraudster dubbed the Lord of Fraud has admitted child sexual abuse offences, investigators say.

Hugh Rodley, 79, pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court earlier to six counts of making indecent images of children and one of possessing such images.

The self-appointed lord has been jailed several times previously for serious fraud offences, including conning more than 700 pensioners out of £6m.

After being found with hundreds of indecent images of children on his devices, National Crime Agency (NCA) senior investigating officer Andy Lawton said: "Rodley can now add helping fuel the sickening trade in child sexual abuse to his list of offences."

NCA officers arrested him at his home near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire in December last year for unrelated alleged offences.

Investigators found a laptop containing 198 indecent images, including 19 at category A, the most serious.

He was released on bail but officers arrested him again in January when he claimed he did not have a mobile phone.

During a search of his property a phone was found which contained further indecent material.

Examination showed he had used the phone almost immediately after being bailed to continue searching for child sexual abuse content.

It contained 295 indecent images of children – five at category A.

"Protecting children from sexual abuse is a priority for the National Crime Agency," said Lawton.

"Behind each of these images is a vulnerable child who has been exploited to gratify the depraved desires of paedophiles."

Rodley, who will return to court in November, was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2009 for trying to steal £229m from a Japanese bank.

In 2012, he was given an additional seven years after being convicted of conning 741 pensioners out of £6m.

He was sentenced to a further seven years in 2016 after failing to repay more than £1.2m.

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