Dubbed Operation Alpine, the investigation found a website that offered more than 1,300 suspected paedophiles across 45 countries access to millions of child abuse images.
On Friday (6 May) at Nottingham Crown Court, four men - Ian Frost, 35, Paul Rowlands, 34, Frost's brother Paul, 37, and Ian Sambridge, 32 - pleaded guilty to a number of charges relating to the distribution and possession of indecent images.
Police estimate that the defendants generated £2.2m from running the subscription service.
Police have said as a result of the operation 132 children have been "protected and safeguarded" and a number of suspected paedophiles have been taken out of positions of trust including teachers, doctors, and youth workers.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here