A comedian and former Camelot worker has been convicted of paying for and directing the sexual abuse of children in the Philippines and Romania.

Eamon Goodfellow, 50, from St Albans, paid fellow abusers overseas to carry out abuse so he could stream it online.

The ex-Camelot worker, who the Mirror reports was suspended as soon as the charges came to light, had performed at the Yellow Comedy Golden Comedian of the Year 2019 in St Albans and at the Edinburgh Fringe.

After he was arrested by National Crime Agency officers in June 2018, all his electronic devices were seized and chat logs showed Goodfellow discussing the abuse of children with facilitators, based in the Philippines and Romania.

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In the chats, Goodfellow was shown to be actively seeking children under 13.

When a child at the right age was identified, he would direct the facilitators to perform certain sexual acts on the children with a view to live-streaming the sick acts.

Evidence showed that he sent payment to the facilitators to carry out the abuse.

He was found guilty of two counts of attempting to cause the sexual exploitation of a child under 13 at St Albans Crown Court on April 12 following a six-day trial.

Martin Ludlow, from the National Crime Agency, said: “Goodfellow made it very clear that he has sexual interest in young children in these chat logs.

“He attempted to arrange for the most horrific abuse of vulnerable children thousands of miles away from him for his own gratification.

“He was helped by facilitators whose motive is to make money. This kind of financially-driven offending is a key threat to the UK."

Goodfellow will be sentenced at the same court on May 31.