Child porn charges for 23 women in online ring

Twenty-three women and a 43-year-old man were charged yesterday with child pornography offences in what investigators say is a unique case because of the number of female suspects.

Charges filed with Falun district court in central Sweden say the women, aged 38-70, received scores of sexually explicit video clips and photographs of children from the main suspect, a man, and discussed them with him online in graphic detail.

The material included images of girls and boys of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers, said prosecutor Niclas Eltenius.

The man was charged with aggravated child pornography, and could face six years in prison, while the women face a lesser charge that carries a maximum of two years' jail.

Mr Eltenius said the man had contacted the women online. Those charged remained in contact with him despite him sending them child porn and discussing it online.

"They expressed themselves in positive terms about the images. And they shared sexual fantasies about the children," Mr Eltenius claimed.

Most of the women have admitted to receiving the material, but say they "wrote things that they thought he wanted to hear in order to remain in contact with him," Mr Eltenius added.

Some of the women are suspected of downloading the material and passing it to others. Two are also accused of taking pictures of children and sending them to the man.

No money was exchanged and the women were not coerced in any way, Mr Eltenius said. He added that the man met and had sexual relations with about half the women accused, who had no contact with each other.

Detective Bjorn Sellstrom said he believed it was the first child porn case to involve so many women. "Interpol say this is a unique case," he added.