Hugh Rodley, 79, dubbed the “Lord of Fraud”, admitted child sexual abuse offences at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court. Rodley admitted six counts of making indecent images and videos of children (IIOC) and one count of possessing IIOC after a National Crime Agency investigation. The NCA arrested him at his home in Ballandine Crescent, Stoke Orchard, Cheltenham, on 4 December last year for unrelated alleged offences. Investigators then found a Hewlett Packard laptop containing 198 IIOC, including 19 at category A, 12 at category B and 167 at category C. The laptop also showed he had searched at least 806 times for paedophilic content. He was released on bail, but the NCA arrested him again on 27 January. Officers said he claimed he did not have a mobile phone. A search of his property found an Apple iPhone with further IIOC material. The phone contained 295 indecent images, including five at category A, 13 at category B and 277 at category C. Examination showed he used the phone almost immediately after being bailed to continue searching for further child sexual abuse content. Rodley, who will return to court for sentencing on 22 November, previously received prison sentences in fraud cases. In 2009 he was jailed for eight years for trying to steal 229m from a Japanese bank. In 2012 he received an additional seven-year term for conning more than 700 pensioners out of 6m. In June 2016, he was sentenced to a further seven years after failing to repay more than 1.2m. The National Crime Agency said protecting children from sexual abuse is a priority and described the images as part of a trade that exploits vulnerable children.