Child porn vicar is jailed

A Mid Wales vicar has been jailed for three-and-a-half years after 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 previously.

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.

Hart used to live at The Vicarage, Beguildy, but latterly had been living in Woking, Surrey.

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.

See Friday's Shropshire Star for more on this story