Teacher denies child porn charges

A teacher and former Labour councillor has appeared in court to deny child pornography offences.

Ben Williams, 35, of Norris Green, was caught with 10 images of girls aged under 18 on his home computer, Liverpool Crown Court was told.

The teacher at King George V College in Southport, Merseyside, was reported to police when he left a trail on a school computer, it was claimed.

He denies 10 counts of making and possessing indecent images of children.

The court was told that Mr Williams was an ex-councillor who sat on Liverpool City Council's children's services committee.

'Genuinely concerned'

Peter Davies, prosecuting, said that in October 2006 a check at King George V College found Mr Williams searching the internet for child pornography sites.

He was suspended but wrote a defensive email to the headteacher and told police he was conducting research and was "genuinely concerned" about ease of access to the internet for his pupils.

He denied "being inspired by voyeurism or perversion".

He said the searches were in response to a speech made by Conservative leader David Cameron about internet dangers.

But, said Mr Davies, Mr Williams had told no-one about his research nor had he asked for permission to look at the sites.

The jury heard that police searched computers he used at work, at the council's headquarters and at Mr Williams' father's home.

It was only the computer at the home that contained the images.

The trial continues.