A former College of West Anglia student was today sentenced to four and a half years in prison after admitting a string of internet related sex offences.

The detective who headed the investigation described it as “one of the worst cases I have ever seen”.

Michael Hudson-Thomas, 24, of Goodwins Road, Kings Lynn, was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court after previously pleading guilty to 10 offences.

The offences were committed between April and December 2013, and involved images from level one to five in severity on the COPINE scale.

He admitted:

•Three counts of possessing extreme pornographic images

•Four counts of possessing an indecent photograph of a child

•Two counts of distributing an indecent photograph of a child

•One count of arranging the commission of a child sex offence.

DC Mark Stratford, King’s Lynn CID, who led the investigation, said: “This is one of the worst cases I have ever seen with Hudson-Thomas using technology to distribute extremely pornographic images, some of which were at the highest end of the offence scale.

This disturbing case is all the more serious when seen in the context of Michaels wider internet usage which saw the offender playing out his unacceptable fantasies online. During the sentencing hearing he was described by the judge as a significant risk to members of the public.”

“The police are committed to bringing such offenders to justice and has a dedicated team of investigators who deal with crimes involving children.

“We hope this case sends out a strong message to those intent on possessing and distributing such images. We should remember that behind every image there is a victim of abuse.”

Hudson-Thomas, a shop assistant with a national chain store, was also subject to a court ordered extended licence period of five years after his release from prison. He will also remain on the Sex Offenders Register for an undetermined amount of time and was given a sexual offences prevention order for an undetermined amount of time.