The chairman and coach of a North Yorkshire swimming club had a library of nearly 150,000 videos and pictures of children being sexual abused.

Mark Anthony Boyce was sentenced at York Crown Court sitting in Bradford today following an international police investigation.

A second man is in custody in America facing allegations of child sex abuse.

The case prompted the NSPCC to call for internet giants to do more to counter internet sex crimes. 

North Yorkshire Police have said Boyce did not commit any offences at the swimming club.

Detective Sergeant Lee Allenby of North Yorkshire Police's online abuse and exploitation team said sexual abuse "is a crime that can affect a child at anytime and anywhere.

"Those who obtain and distribute child abuse material - sickening and perverted individuals such as Mark Boyce - directly contribute to the sexual exploitation of children. This is because the children involved are continually re-victimised.

“It is very satisfying that we were able to identify the suspect for alleged offences in another country and ensure the vulnerable young victim is now receiving the professional support and care they so desperately needed.”

Boyce, formerly of Hawkser near Whitby, pleaded guilty to downloading 11,145 images of the most serious category of child abuse, 12,177 of the middle category and 121,047 of the lowest category.

He also admitted distributing two images of the lowest category, possessing 150 prohibited images of a child and possessing 114 extreme pornographic images.

He had been in custody since his arrest six months ago.

He was given a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for two years on condition he undergoes prescribed rehabilitation and does not reoffend, and was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

North Yorkshire Police started investigating Boyce in early 2019 and searched his home and work place in October 2019 when they arrested him.

They found images on his internet devices of a man apparently raping a girl that led to the force linking up with police in Queensland, Australia and the USA to identify a 29-year-old man from Arizona.

The American man was arrested and charged with child sexual abuse in March and was remanded in custody on a $1 million bond.

An NSPCC spokesman said: “This is not a victimless crime and every image portrays an incident of abuse against a real and innocent child.

“Sadly during these unprecedented days - with fewer moderators available to tech companies – these crimes have the potential to escalate.

“Abusers will take advantage of these uncertain times so tech companies must step up and help put a stop to this vile trade at source.”