A SHAMED soldier from York is waiting to discover his punishment after admitting making and possessing hundreds of indecent pictures of children.

Disgraced Kevin Jason Welch’s voice cracked in the dock at York Crown Court as he pleaded guilty to a string of child porn charges which could leave him facing a jail sentence.

The 37-year-old, who is a sergeant with 2 Signal Regiment and is based at Imphal Barracks in York, will now find out his fate next month – with a judge warning him that all sentencing options are being considered.

Dressed in a charcoal grey suit and a purple shirt and tie, Welch – whose address was given to the court as being the barracks in Fulford Road – admitted 16 charges of making indecent photographs of children dating back to May 2006.

He also pleaded guilty to a further offence of possessing 468 indecent photographs of children between September 2005 and April 2008.

As he answered “Guilty, ma’am” to the court clerk when the 17 counts he admitted were put to him, Welch’s voice began to falter.

His defence barrister, Brian Strong, told the court: “He is a man of hitherto good character.”

The case was adjourned until next month while a pre-sentence report is compiled and Welch was given unconditional bail in the meantime.

Before he left the courtroom, Recorder Timothy Roberts QC told him: “The fact I am granting you bail unconditionally and directing the preparation of a pre-sentence report should not be taken by you as any indication as to how you will be dealt with when you return. All sentencing options will be kept open to the court on that day.”

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence confirmed Welch is a serving member of the York-based regiment, but said he could not comment further on the case or discuss whether the soldier will face any disciplinary action from the British Army.

One of the most regularly deployed regiments within 11th Signal Brigade, 2 Signal Regiment, plays a crucial role in delivering information and communications services to the British armed forces’ Joint Rapid Reaction Force, which deals with rapid deployment operations.