Ex-Teacher On Child Porn Charges

A former assistant headteacher at an independent school has been charged with possession of indecent images of children.

William Stansbury, who was assistant head at Ipswich School, Suffolk, will face five counts of making indecent images of children, relating to more than 44,000 images.

Suffolk Police said the 45-year-old of Glenmoor Road, West Parley, Ferndown, Dorset, will appear before Ipswich Magistrates' Court on January 2.

The allegations date from between April 2005 and August this year.

Stansbury, also former head of sixth-form, left Ipswich school in August.

Headmaster Nicholas Weaver said:

''We are obviously very shocked and saddened by this news regarding a former employee.

''We have written to our parents to reassure them that the charges do not relate to any pupils at Ipswich School.

''Throughout the investigation we have worked closely with the police and Suffolk Safeguarding, who have confirmed that we have acted entirely appropriately under the circumstances.''

Suffolk County Council's safeguarding manager has sent a letter to parents asking them to contact Mr Weaver if they have any concerns about the news.