THE career of a singer and entertainer – who was dubbed the new Michael Ball – was in ruins this week after he was found guilty of being an internet paedophile. Duncan Breeze, 32, was remanded in custody and told he faced a long jail term after being ca

THE career of a singer and entertainer - who was dubbed 'the new Michael Ball' - was in ruins this week after he was found guilty of being an internet paedophile.

Duncan Breeze, 32, was remanded in custody and told he faced a long jail term after being caught with thousands of pictures of child sex abuse.

The singer, a law graduate and qualified solicitor, had toured the country starring in his own show, A Night At The Musicals.

He had his own website and was building a devoted fan base.

But off-stage, sometimes in the early hours of the morning after performances, Breeze would access the child pornography.

Breeze, who has highlighted blond hair and sings as a high baritone, told the jury of seven women and five men at Luton Crown Court that he believed the images had been downloaded by someone who worked for his or his family's businesses.

He broke down in tears as he told them his pantomime work had ended because of the publicity about the case.

In the past he had usually played the role of Prince Charming in Cinderella at theatres all over the country.

Breeze, of Main Street, Pymoor, near Ely, Cambs, was arrested in October 2004 after police were alerted by the Croatian law enforcement agencies.

Child pornography was found on computers at his former home in Beeston, near Sandy, and at his parents' home in Weston-Super-Mare. In all the police found 4,270 pictures of young girls.

Breeze denied 20 offences of making indecent images of children. Smartly dressed in a purple shirt and tie and dark suit, he gasped and shook his head in disbelief on Tuesday when he was convicted by the jury. He was cleared on the judge's direction of one offence of possessing indecent images of children.

Prosecutor Adrian Amer told the jury that Breeze gave officers a statement in which he denied responsibility for the pictures, saying it was a former employee. Mr Amer said that despite inquiries that person had not been traced.

Breeze told the court he was of previous good character and had never been arrested or cautioned.

After university, his singing career took off at Southampton where he joined a semi-professional theatre company.

He won a talent contest and did a year singing on cruise ships before going on to study at the Royal Academy of Music.

Breeze said that with the support of his family he set up Sweet Music Productions and toured with A Night At The Musicals.

The jury was shown a souvenir programme from 2002.

But they and the judge were an audience he could not win over. Remanding him in custody, Judge Geoffrey Breen described Breeze as "manipulative".

He went on: "His arrogance is such that he no doubt hoped he would pull the wool over the jury's eyes despite overwhelming evidence. He now faces a custodial sentence of some length."

Breeze is due to be sentenced in May.