British vicar admits to child pornography

CARDIFF, Wales, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- A British vicar in the Welsh town of Beguildy says he did possess more than 55,000 child pornographic photographs.

The BBC said Wednesday that the Rev. Richard Hart had pleaded guilty to 12 criminal charges including making indecent images of children, taking indecent images and possession of child pornographic images.

Since being detained by authorities, the 59-year-old church official from the British county of Surrey has been suspended from his duties as vicar.

Child protection officer Canon Robert Jones, who serves the Swansea and Brecon diocese in Wales, told the BBC that church officials were doing everything they could to help those impacted by the vicar's illicit actions.

"We have offered pastoral care and support to those affected and obviously the Church in Wales gives the highest priority to the care and protection to children and vulnerable members of the community," the church official said.

"We regularly review our child protection policy which came into force 10 years ago to try to eliminate the possibility of people behaving in this way."

Hart, who has served as vicar for more than 20 years, is awaiting sentence in Cardiff Crown Court.