Child abuser took pictures of young girls in sexual poses.

Child abuser jailed for eight years after sharing images with paedophiles online.

Karl Torgersen, 41, was arrested in Liverpool last September after German police uncovered a European paedophile ring and traced photos back to him.

Torgersen pleaded guilty to over 60 charges including sexual assault, taking indecent pictures of a child and distributing indecent images of a child.

He was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison, with a minimum of two-thirds to be served, after being labelled a dangerous offender. He was also given an extended licence period of 14 years.

Torgersen's excuse that he was "objectively" investigating online paedophilia after being abused as a child was dismissed as "classic denial" by Judge Robert Trevor-Jones.

Joanne Roberts, 38, Torgersen's partner, pleaded guilty to less serious sexual assaults and charges related to indecent images. She was jailed for two years and seven months.

The judge said: "You were present and played your part."