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Eric Joyce: Ex-Labour MP admits child sex offence Eric Joyce: Ex-Labour MP admits child sex offence
(about 2 hours later)
Ex-Labour MP and former Army officer Eric Joyce has been told he faces jail after he admitted making an indecent image of a child. Ex-Labour MP and former Army officer Eric Joyce has been told he faces jail after he admitted having an indecent movie of a child.
Joyce, 59, of Worlingworth, Suffolk, was originally arrested in November 2018 and appeared in court earlier. Joyce, 59, had a film on a device that "depicts a number of children" with one said to be 12 months old, Ipswich Crown Court heard.
The court heard the "Category A" material was made between August 2013 and November 2018. The former shadow minister was arrested in November 2018.
Joyce was granted bail and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register. He is due to be sentenced on 7 August. He was granted bail and ordered to sign the sex offenders register. He is due to be sentenced on 7 August.
Joyce was the Labour MP for Falkirk in Stirlingshire between 2000 and 2012 before leaving the party to serve as an independent. Joyce, of Worlingworth, Suffolk, pleaded guilty to making an indecent image of a child.
He pleaded guilty at Ipswich Crown Court to a charge of making an indecent photograph of a child. He was the Labour MP for Falkirk in Stirlingshire between 2000 and 2012 before leaving the party to serve as an independent.
Judge Emma Peters said the single 51-second movie, found on a device, "depicts a number of children". The court heard the 51-second category A film - the most serious there is - was accessed by Joyce between August 2013 and November 2018.
"Some are quite young, one is said to be 12 months old - clearly a Category A movie," she said. Judge Emma Peters said Joyce, who appeared at court in person, "says he accesses it via an email which he says was a spam email".
Category A material is defined by the Sentencing Council as the most serious category of indecent images of children.
She said Joyce, who appeared at court in person, "says he accesses it via an email which he says was a spam email".
"At the time he was drinking heavily and he has now undergone work with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and a psychotherapist," the judge said."At the time he was drinking heavily and he has now undergone work with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and a psychotherapist," the judge said.
Shadow Northern Ireland minister She said the court "takes such incidents very seriously" as they "fuel the abuse of children" and warned Joyce the offence crosses the custody threshold.
She said the court "takes such incidents very seriously" as they "fuel the abuse of children". "It's going to be a question of whether it's immediate or suspended," she added.
As a Labour MP, Joyce held the post of shadow Northern Ireland minister in 2010. While a Labour MP, Joyce held the post of shadow Northern Ireland minister in 2010.
He stepped down before the 2015 general election.He stepped down before the 2015 general election.
Joyce originally joined the Army in 1977 before serving for 21 years, during which he rose to the rank of major.Joyce originally joined the Army in 1977 before serving for 21 years, during which he rose to the rank of major.