A DISGRACED community volunteer has been convicted of conspiring to commit indecent assault after being implicated with a national paedophile ring.

Barry Carman, of Earlestown, was shown to have been in contact with Raymond Hawthorne, the head of a national paedophile gang.

Leeds Crown Court heard how Nathan Eyre (38) 'sold' a 14-year-old boy to Hawthorne from Eccles at a fast-food restaurant in Bradford last October.

Hawthorne (40) then forced the child to work as a prostitute with three other teenagers at his home, and took him to clients across the country during six days of what police described as "humiliating, degrading, sexual acts".

The boy was rescued by officers from the West Yorkshire Police Child and Public Protection Unit after being reported missing from his Leeds home.

Their operation found Hawthorne sent a text message to Carman, describing the boy as the "cutest" he had ever seen. Carman sent a message back saying: "When is he working?"

Carman (56) the only one of seven men facing charges to plead not guilty, will be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court at a later date.

Earlier this year, Carman, who is disabled, won the Flo Smith Award from the Maritime Housing Association for "outstanding achievement". He is a board member for national charity the Voice of Methodism, a local historian and has given talks to church and community groups.

Hawthorne, who pleaded guilty to abduction, living off immoral earnings, and conspiring to commit indecent assault, was sentenced to seven years.

Eyre, who had groomed the boy into prostitution by plying him with drink, drugs and treats over two years, pleaded guilty to incitement to commit indecency and living off immoral earnings. He was sentenced to a total of eight years.

Two other men were jailed after being charged as part of the inquiry, while two others are awaiting sentence.