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Man (38) at centre of "serious" child exploitation case

A Co Tyrone man is at the centre of a "serious" child sexual exploitation case
A Co Tyrone man is at the centre of a "serious" child sexual exploitation case A Co Tyrone man is at the centre of a "serious" child sexual exploitation case

A 38-year-old Co Tyrone man is at the centre of "one of the most serious cases of sexual exploitation of children" the National Crime Agency has ever encountered, one of its officers has said.

Michael Dynes, of Rossin View in Dungannon, placed adverts on the Gumtree website looking for life models, Dungannon Magistrates Court heard on Friday.

He would "audition" them via webcam and try to get them to perform sexual acts, it was claimed.

Some of the alleged victims, both male and female, are believed to be as young as 11.

Dynes is accused of 16 offences including making and possessing indecent images of children, having "extreme images", possessing a prohibited image of a child and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of children aged both under 16 and 13.

The offences allegedly happened between 2009 and this year.

Dynes's home was searched on June 4 as part of a major NCA investigation into internet sexual abuse and indecent images of children.

The investigation found thousands of images of children on Dynes's computer which although not illegal, indicated sexual intent, the court heard.

Other files were said to have contained images of bestiality and rape.

Dynes was refused bail.

District Judge John Meehan said he had "acute concerns as to the safety of vulnerable children, and the possibility of witness interference".

Dynes was remanded in custody to appear by video-link next month.

The NCA began operating in Northern Ireland in May.