Stephen Coleclough CTA, 53, of Tibbs Way, Bugbrooke, was convicted at Northampton Crown Court on 26 February. He has also been placed on the sex offenders register.

He was arrested in March 2015 by the force’s POLIT (Paedophile On Line Investigation Team). A lengthy and complex investigation followed.

Following a guilty plea, the court confirmed that Coleclough will be sentenced in April. 

Coleclough was president of CIOT from 2013-14 and has nearly 30 years’ experience working in tax and law. He joined Simmons & Simmons, an international law firm in the City, shortly after qualification and having attained his chartered tax adviser qualification. He was made partner and head of the corporate and indirect taxes department at the firm.

He then spent 16 years from 1997 at PwC [which he joined following the merger from Coopers & Lybrand] where he was a partner and global head of indirect taxes until 2013. Most recently, he has provided expert witness services for Expert Evidence Ltd, covering UK, EU and international tax cases.

He was also  previously a tax consultant at law firm Mishcon de Reya LLP.  The firm terminated his services as soon as it was made aware of the allegations against Coleclough in October 2015.

Chris Jones, CIOT President, said: 'I am shocked and saddened by what I have learned’.