Vicar had 56,000 child porn images

LONDON (Reuters) - A vicar who admitted having 56,000 indecent images of children was remanded in custody on Wednesday to await sentencing.

The Rev. Richard Hart, 59, from Woking, Surrey, did not apply for bail and was led to the cells at the end of a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court.

His defence lawyer John Ryan told the court: "He is realistic about the kind of sentence and wishes to have his time start now." Judge John Curran will sentence him later this month, the Press Association said.

Hart also admitted 12 charges of making indecent photographs between 1999 and 2007, and four of taking such images in 1991.

He has been vicar of the rural parish of Beguildy, near Knighton, Mid Wales, since 2001. He was suspended when the allegations came to light in January.

A spokesman for the Church in Wales said Hart will face a church tribunal.

"The Church in Wales is deeply saddened and shocked that one of its clerics has pleaded guilty to such very serious offences," Canon Robert Jones, diocesan child protection officer for Swansea and Brecon, said outside court. "It is of particular concern that these offences should have occurred at a time when he held a very responsible and privileged position in one of our church communities."

(Reporting by Peter Griffiths; editing by Steve Addison)