Man exposed himself on web

FATHER-OF-TWO Barry Jacobs exposed himself over an internet webcam to an undercover police officer posing as an 11-year-old girl.

When detectives raided his home in Felsham Chase, Burwell, they discovered 51,000 indecent pictures of children on his computer and 137 videos.

On Monday the 35-year-old carpenter admitted 17 charges involving downloading and possessing the images when he appeared before Cambridge Crown Court.

At an earlier hearing, he had admitted two offences of attempting sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Detectives set up the sting after they were alerted by a mother worried about messages her 11-year-old had been receiving on the computer.

A female officer contacted Jacobs over the internet and he spoke to her about porn sites he had visited and about how babies were made.

Sara Walker, prosecuting, told the court at an earlier hearing: "They were on a webcam and at one point the defendant got up from the chair wearing a dressing gown not tied up. He was naked underneath."

When police arrived at his home in summer, 2005, Jacobs was wearing just a dressing gown.

Jacobs, who remains in custody, will be sentenced in the week beginning June 18 after probation and psychiatric reports are received.

After the hearing Ely police detective sergeant, Tim Underhill, who carried out the investigation into the case, said: "We have removed a very dangerous man from the streets.

"It was a very successful operation which moved very quickly thanks to the circumstances being right and the co-operation of the family..

"The question that has to be asked is 'where would he go next?' He had got all his porn - for him to have 50,000 images he must have been doing nothing else. He had got contact with a child and believes he is committing offences in front of that child.