Public school teacher admits porn charges

Public school teacher admits porn charges

A teacher at a top public school has been told he could be jailed for downloading internet child pornography.

Philip Cooke, 43, pleaded guilty at Frome Magistrates' Court to five charges of making indecent images of children between 1997 and 2003.

Magistrates were told how Mr Cooke, who taught at Millfield School in Street, had hundreds of indecent images of children on computer equipment at his home.

Prosecuting, Suzanne Nicholas said police searched Mr Cooke's home in Keward Walk, Wells, as part of an international investigation into internet child pornography.

I was weak and foolish and I looked - I was curious really - it was not for any sexual gratification

Philip Cooke

She said his name and details had been found on the database of a US company providing access to child pornography.

At Mr Cooke's home more than 360 indecent images of children and a number of movie clips of children were found, she said.

Initially Mr Cooke said he only looked at adult pornographic images on the internet, but later admitted to police that he had looked at child pornography.

Paul Walters, defending, said Mr Cooke had told police: "I was weak and foolish and I looked - I was curious really - it was not for any sexual gratification."

Mr Walters stressed the offences had nothing to do with Mr Cooke's employment and that he resigned when they emerged.

Sex offender

"He's utterly ruined himself as a result of what has happened - he's now jobless and will shortly be homeless," he added.

He also said Cooke denied using the US web site and did not know how his details had ended up on that database.

Magistrate John Price told Cooke that the offences were so serious that the court would consider a custodial term and ordered a pre-sentence report looking at all options.

Cooke was remanded on bail and told he must register with police as a sex offender.

The case was adjourned until 15 May at Frome magistrates.