Church leaders have spoken of their shock after a Mid Wales vicar admitting possessing more than 56,000 indecent images of children.

The Reverend Richard Hart, 59, admitted 21 offences connected with the making, taking and possessing of indecent images of children between July 1991 and January 2007.

The images possessed by Hart ranged from category one to category five, the most serious on the scale, Cardiff Crown Court heard yesterday.

The vicar admitted 12 charges of making indecent photographs, four of taking such images and five of possessing a total of 56,832 indecent images.

Sentencing was adjourned until September 25 for reports on Hart, formerly of The Vicarage, Beguildy, but latterly living in Woking, Surrey. Judge John Curran remanded him in custody.

Following Hart’s arrest in January, church officials suspended him from all duties at St Michael’s Church in Beguildy, St Cynllo in Llangunllo, St Mary Magdalene in Bleddfa, St David in Heyope and St Padarn’s in Llanbadarn Fynydd.

Hart’s wife Julie, 40, who was also arrested in connection with the offences, has since been given a caution.

Canon Robert Jones, Church in Wales spokesman, said he was “saddened” by what had happened.

Canon Jones, diocesan child protection officer for Swansea and Brecon, said: “The Church in Wales is saddened and shocked one of its clerics has admitted such serious offences involving the use of indecent images of children.

“To us, it is of particular concern these offences should have occurred at a time when he held a responsible and privileged position in one of our church communities.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the children who may have been directly or indirectly affected, and with the wider communities in which they live.

“The Church in Wales gives the highest priority to the care and protection of children and vulnerable members of the community and we regularly review our child protection policies and procedures to seek to eliminate the possibility of those over whom we exercise authority behaving in this way.”

Hart has also been suspended from his position as chairman of governors at Beguildy Primary School.

A local resident, who did not wish to be named said: “I have two young children under six and there was time when they travelled in the same car as Hart. I trusted him completely and I’m just totally shocked.”

By Anwen Evans