Former Wakefield Express journalist and NUJ Father of Chapel Thomas O'Carroll has admitted to charges of owning and distributing child porn.
Appearing at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court, O'Carroll admitted distributing 50,000 images — which were discovered in a secret vault — in magazines, stills and slides between 1994 and 2005.
Prosecuting, Peter Zinner said he would argue at sentencing in December that the 61-year-old should be regarded as a "serious risk" to young people.
O'Carroll was a founding member of the now defunct Paedophile Information Exchange, and was an active campaigner for the legalisation of under-age sex.
He worked for the Wakefield newspaper for four years up to 1993 and was FoC until another union member recognised his name on a story he was researching on paedophiles.
Judge Ian Karsten remanded O'Carroll in custody for pre-sentencing reports. He is to be sentenced on 15 December.
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
