A MAN was found with more than 70,000 indecent images of children stashed in his “run-down” flat during a police crackdown on offenders.

Following a tip-off, officers executed a warrant at Barry Jones’ home in Barnaby Road, Southend, on December 20 last year.

They found two rounds of live ammunition, which he did not have a firearms licence for, and seized various computer items, including laptops and hard drives which contained the images.

The images consisted of 279 films and 1,958 still Category A images, 48 films and 3,024 Category B images and 44 films and 13,275 Category C images

A further 52,605 images of child abuse were found on the devices.

Jones, 46, admitted possessing ammunition for a firearm without a certificate and three counts of making indecent images of children when he appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court. He will appear at Basildon Crown Court later this month for sentence.

The arrest was made as part of a countywide crackdown to target offenders downloading, making and distributing indecent images of children online.

Over the last six months, specialist officers used intelligence to raid 44 homes across Essex and arrest 43 people, 12 of which have been charged. The rest remain on bail while complex digital forensic work takes place.

The team have worked alongside and in support of Essex Police’s existing specialist Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT) and Child Abuse Investigation Teams (CAIT).

Speaking about the raid at Mr Jones’ home, Det Sgt Ashley Howard, who is leading the team of officers, said: “When we turned up at the address, the occupant wasn’t at home but there was music coming from within the address.

“We had a search warrant granted by the court. We kept banging on the door to no answer so we forced our way inside.

“It was a real run-down bedsit. It turns out he had been taking the dog for a walk and came back while we were there.

“We located a small amount of cannabis, gave him a formal warning as well as two rounds of NATO bullets, which he said he had had for years.

“He said that he had been expecting us. He had been downloading and viewing imagery for a number of years and needed help.

“Our message is clear – downloading or viewing indecent images of children is a crime- if you are doing it or considering doing it - stop now, you can get help.”