THE sickening story of Timothy O’Keefe shows how a simple click of the mouse can have devastating consequences for the most vulnerable in society.

He downloaded almost 10,000 pictures of child pornography, including some of the most severe abuses of youngsters.

Judge Christopher Compston rightly said O’Keefe is complicit in the abuse of children by feeding the demand for such images.

Yet many paedophiles do not make such a link, that some of the most evil crimes can be committed alone and in front of a computer.

The easy access offered by the Internet has awakened dangerous impulses in society.

Prevention is just part of the answer.

The technical complexity of the worldwide web means virtually every attempt to close a website can be overcome.

The real prevention comes with protecting youngsters from abuse – a massive task that will worry many in the light of major cuts to council social services’ departments.

Yet tough sentences and rightful public exposure in our public courts must be used to send a clear message – that a split-second click on the mouse could leave another young life in ruins.