A SUFFOLK county councillor's career was left in tatters today after he pleaded guilty to a sex assault and a string of child porn offences.

A SUFFOLK county councillor's career was left in tatters today after he pleaded guilty to a sex assault and a string of child porn offences.

Ben Redsell, 28, of Melton Meadow Road, Melton, near Woodbridge, appeared at Norwich Crown Court.

He admitted one allegation of sexual assault, seven counts of making indecent pictures of children and three counts of possessing indecent pictures of children.

The town, district and county councillor for Woodbridge had previously pleaded not guilty to the offences but changed his plea shortly before his trial was due to start.

It is understood that he has now resigned from his positions at Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Coastal District Council and Woodbridge Town Council.

In a letter to the district council Redsell said: “It has been an honour to serve the people of Woodbridge as their councillor for the last year and I am very sorry to be leaving in this way.

“I will be attending Crown Court on Monday and changing my plea on a number of the charges on the indictment.”

Redsell, who represented the Woodbridge Riverside ward, was first elected to district council in May last year with a majority of 259.

He secured more than half the votes cast and became an Independent councillor in November 2007.

A spokesman for Suffolk Coastal said it is too early at this stage to predict when by-elections will be held to fill the vacant seat.

Redsell, who was elected to the county council in April 2004, has been released on bail and ordered to sign the sex offenders register.

He will be sentenced at Norwich Crown Court on August 1.