A local newspaper publisher has been told that he “almost certainly” faces a jail term after admitting possessing more than 70,000 indecent images of children.

And Kevin Skaith, who publishes the independent Lincoln-based newspaper the Lincolnshire Gazette, has also been told to register as a sex offender.

Skaith, (38), of Lincoln, pleaded guilty at Lincoln Crown Court to 20 separate charges of making indecent photographs of children between October 7, 1999, and March 30, 2004.

Two of those charges relate to him making indecent photographs by means of a moving image.

He also admitted four separate counts of possessing a total of 70,841 indecent images of children on a collection of computer discs and on the hard drive of a computer.

Skaith – who used to work in pre-press production at the Lincolnshire Echo – answered “guilty” as the court clerk read out each of the 24 charges from the indictment.

Michael Cranmer-Brown, representing Skaith, asked for sentencing to be adjourned for probation and psychological reports.

Skaith at a previous hearing
(Pic: Lincolnshire Echo)

Adjourning the hearing, Judge John Machin told the defendant: “Mr Cranmer-Brown has recognised that these cases are very serious and there will almost certainly be a sentence of imprisonment as a consequence.

“I say that, lest you think that because of your guilty pleas, you will not be sent to prison.”

As Skaith left the dock he said to the judge: “Thank you sir.”

At a previous court appearance, the prosecution explained that the charges, under the Protection of Children Act 1978, refer to all five of the legally defined categories of child images, including the most serious.