DETECTIVES investigating claims of child sex offences allegedly committed by a West Dorset man had to ask MI5 for help in the ‘biggest job’ of its kind Dorset Police had ever done, a jury heard.

Former British Airways pilot Bartle Frere, pictured, 50, from Shipton Gorge in Bridport, is on trial at Bournemouth Crown Court accused of 25 sex offences against boys under 16. He denies all charges.

The jury heard that 25 storage devices, including computers and mobile phones, were seized by police when they executed a search warrant on Frere’s home last year.

Martine Hobbs, digital forensic investigator for Dorset Police, told the court she examined an array of electrical storage devices found at the property.

She had to ask MI5 code-breakers for help to get into a heavily encrypted part of Frere’s computer, the jury heard.

Once opened, investigators found items including video footage of one of the alleged UK victims, indecent photographs of children, web searches for underage sex websites, plus a copy of an infamous book related to paedophilia, the court heard.

Defending, Simon Ray said the password protection on that part of the computer was standard Apple software.

He added that pictures found on the computer were not particularly shocking compared to other cases.

Miss Hobbs said because of the amount of data on the devices, searching through it was ‘probably the biggest job we have ever had.’ The court also heard how Frere used Facebook and email arrange meetings with boys in India.

Prosecutor Elisabeth Bussey-Jones read out all of the messages found on Frere’s computer to one alleged victim, including one which said: ‘I want to hug you and have a bath with you and cuddle you on the bed.’ He would often end his messages with ‘love you’, the court heard. The trial continues today.