Ex-assistant scout leader had 7,500 indecent child pics

A FORMER ASSISTANT scout leader from Shropshire has appeared in court to admit a string of offences including being in possession of about 7,500 indecent images of children.

David Stokes, 47, of Egerton Road, Whitchurch, admitted 16 charges relating to indecent images of children, which included 12 of making and four of possession.

Market Drayton magistrates were told information had been passed to police in April and a search was carried out at Stokes' home where computer equipment was seized.

Magistrates heard police found more than 7,500 images of children, some as young as eight years old.

Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors, who represented Stokes at court last week, today confirmed he had faced 12 charges of making an indecent photograph or video film ranging in levels of seriousness, with one of the charges relating to the production of 7,785 images.

He was also charged with four offences of having in his possession about 7,500 indecent photos of children again ranging in levels of seriousness.

Mr Stephen Scully, for Stokes, confirmed today that the defendant had admitted the charges put to him and he had been committed to Shrewsbury Crown Court for sentencing.

Due to the number of images involved and the serious nature of some of the images, magistrates declined jurisdiction.

Mr Scully said: "He admitted everything and was committed for sentence."

Stokes will be sentenced during the week beginning March 22.

The court heard Stokes had been an assistant scout leader but had since resigned from his position.

Mr Scully told the court that no images had been found of any of the children he had been associated with through his role with the scouts.

In addition, he said there was no evidence to suggest Stokes had been involved in distributing images and maintained he had not sought sexual gratification from his work with children.

By Suzanne Roberts