Richard Huckle: Britain's 'worst paedophile' jailed for 71 sex crimes against children and babies in Malaysia

As his sentence was read out, Richard Huckle coud be seen clasping his hands in prayer

A British man - said to be the country's most prolific ever paedophile - has been jailed for life after admitting 71 sex crimes against children in Malaysia.

Richard Huckle, from Ashford in Kent, admitted to an unprecedented number of child sex offences involving up to 200 Malaysian children and babies.

The 30-year-old freelance photographer has been given 22 life sentences and will serve a minimum term of 23 years.

He clasped his hands in prayer as his sentence was read out.

In sentencing Huckle, Judge Peter Rook QC said: "It is very rare indeed that a judge has to sentence sexual offending by one person on such a scale as this."

A practicing Christian, Huckle found his victims in poor neighbourhoods of the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Posing as English teacher doing good works, he abused children from the age of six months to 12-years-old over a nine-year-period.

Since admitting to the charges, Huckle expressed a "deep remorse" for his actions, claiming he was "gullible" and "easily influenced" by external forces.

Investigators discovered he had written a manual for paedophiles entitled "Paedophiles And Poverty: Child Lover Guide" available via a hyperlink over the "dark web".

Huckle had also tried to earn money by crowdfunding videos of him abusing a three-year-old girl.

In a letter to the court dated May 23, he described himself as having "low self esteem and lack of confidence with women", although he said that was "no excuse".

He wrote: "I am regretful, remorseful and eager to be rehabilitated from this offending behaviour."

Huckle was arrested by the National Crime Agency when he landed at Gatwick airport en route to spend Christmas at home with his family in 2014.

More than 20,000 indecent pictures and videos were found on his computer. Officers also searched the home of Huckle's parents.