Teacher admits downloading porn

David Phipps downloaded images from the internet

A former housemaster at one of Shropshire's leading private schools has pleaded guilty to downloading child pornography from the internet.

Maths teacher David Phipps was arrested after paying up to $40 a month to download hundreds of obscene photos from American-based websites in 1999.

He was given a community rehabilitation order at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Friday.

Phipps resigned from his post as assistant house tutor at Prestfelde School in Shrewsbury in December after the school was informed by the police that he was under investigation.

Sex offenders

The court heard that 43-year-old Phipps had already sought psychological help.

Ex teacher Paul Withers, 48, from Trench, in Telford was jailed for 15 months after he admitted downloading more than 17,000 images and video clips.

Stephen Phillips, 41, a civil servant from Woodside, received a 12-month prison sentence for similar offences.

All three, who pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing, have been ordered to register as sex offenders.