Ex-Eton teacher admits child porn

McAuslan's images were spotted by staff at the Eton IT department

A former teacher at Eton College is facing jail for child porn offences.

Ian McAuslan admitted two counts of possessing indecent images of children, and 14 of making them, at Bracknell Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

The 54-year-old, from Lingwood Close in Southampton, was arrested in January and will be sentenced at a later date.

McAuslan has resigned as a classics tutor at the Berkshire boys school, where Princes William and Harry were both educated.

The court heard the images were found when McAuslan handed his computer in to the school's IT department for an upgrade.

More than 200 indecent images of children, all boys, were discovered on its hard drive by the hi-tech crime unit of Thames Valley Police.

It was a boys' boarding school and all of the images were of boys Anne Conway, prosecutor

The court heard the images were rated at the second highest level of seriousness, some showing children engaged in sex with adults.

A search of his home recovered a 20-year-old video showing indecent images of children.

Prosecutor Anne Conway told the court: "There are certain aggravating features which you must consider.

"These include the defendant's position in the community.

"These items were seized on school premises.

"It was a boys' boarding school and all of the images were of boys.

"It would be possible to say that the defendant has abused a position of trust, bearing in mind the nature of his employment."

'Early retirement'

But Christopher Hayes, defending, told magistrates McAuslan had already been punished.

He said: "The effects of his actions have had devastating consequences.

"His career is ruined, he has been forced to take early retirement."

After examining the pictures, the chair of the magistrates Celia Goldsmith told McAuslan that he would be sentenced by a higher court with greater powers.

He was ordered to appear at Reading Crown Court at a date to be fixed.