'Every parent's nightmare' paedophile is jailed

Gareth Hulme, 25, from Manchester, twice raped a 10-year-old after gaining the trust of the boy's parents and luring him away to walk his dog in woods.

Hulme, described in court as a predatory paedophile who was "every parent's nightmare", attacked the boy at a summer festival in Cheshire last year – taking a photo on his mobile phone as he raped his victim.

Hulme, a security guard, also lurked in internet chatrooms to groom other victims, including a 15-year-old boy and was also attempting to arrange a meeting with a friend to have sex with a nine-year-old.

When police raided his house following his arrest last June they discovered a hoard of sickening child porn on his mobile phone and computer.

The discovery led to the unravelling of a child sex network, and 23 other police forces, including Interpol, launched raids to arrest suspects as far afield as Ireland, Spain and Luxembourg.

So far 25 people have been arrested since Hulme was held and Greater Manchester Police also traced other potential child sex offenders, three of whom were charged, including a former high school maths teacher.

A number of other men in positions of trust were also identified as suspects and a series of police investigations is ongoing.

Hulme pleaded guilty to two rapes of the 10-year-old and taking an indecent photograph of the boy.

He also pleaded guilty to making and distributing child sex abuse images, attempting to arrange child sex, meeting a child following grooming and sexual activity with a child, along with possession of an offensive weapon.

Yesterday Judge Anthony Gee QC gave Hulme an indeterminate sentence for public protection at Manchester Crown Court, and told the defendant he must serve a minimum of six years before the Parole Board can consider his release.

But Judge Gee said as Hulme was regarded as a danger to young boys it may be many more years before he is considered safe enough to release.

Passing sentence he added: "No right-thinking person hearing the facts of this case can feel anything but horror, revulsion and disgust.

"I regard yours as an appalling case.

"You are a sexual predator and a paedophile.

"I regard you as a real danger to young boys who you regard as your prey to satisfy deviant and perverted sexual urges."