Svengali-like leader of paedophile ring jailed for nine years

THE “Svengali-like” leader of an online paedophile ring who drew in four female accomplices was jailed yesterday for a minimum of nine years and might never be released.

IT consultant Colin Blanchard, 40, convinced four women — Vanessa George, 40, Tracy Lyons, 41, Tracy Dawber, 44, and Angela Allen, 40 — to sexually assault young children and share the images.

Lyons was jailed for seven years and Dawber was given a four-year term while fellow paedophiles George and Allen are serving prison sentences.