A FORMER headteacher and who repeatedly viewed extreme images of children being sexually abused has been told by a judge to face up to his attraction for youngsters.

Teesside Crown Court heard Trevor Allen, who worked as an administrator at Risedale Sports and Community College, in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, between 2004 and 2011, continued to deny having any sexual interest in young people.

The 70-year-old admitted 11 counts of making 35 indecent images of children as young as nine, some of which were classed as being of the most serious type, but claimed he had been attempting to view legal pornography.

Sarah Mallet, prosecuting, said Allen’s wife had alerted police to a large volume of video files, with titles such as Dormitory Boys, on Allen’s recently purchased computer at his home in Bolton Avenue, Richmond, while he was attending a conference in September 2012.

A forensic examination of the computer found Allen, who served as clerk to the Company of Mercers, Grocers and Haberdashers of Richmond, had made explicit internet searches, including for “young gay teen boys”.

Allen, who is understood to have been involved with groups including Richmond and Darlington operatic societies, Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society and Leyburn and Teesside Gilbert and Sullivan societies, told police that while he remained married, he had been questioning his sexuality.

Inga Borgen, mitigating, said Allen was ashamed of having downloaded the images and that his life had been turned upside down as he went through a divorce and moved away from North Yorkshire.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Simon Bourne-Arton QC, said Allen, who had retired as the headteacher of a secondary school in Surrey in 2000 before working as a supply teacher and school administrator, had destroyed his own reputation.

He said: “There is no suggestion that you were anything but a committed and caring professional when you were working at schools.

“At the age of 70 you have lost your good name and exposed the person that you are – someone who is inclined to look at these sort of images.

“You have adamantly denied that you get sexual gratification from viewing these images. You are in denial Mr Allen.”

Allen, of Crawley, West Sussex, was sentenced to 15 weeks’ jail, suspended for 18 months, 120 hours’ community work, 18 months’ supervision and was put on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

A North Yorkshire County Council spokeswoman said: "The allegations came to light when Trevor Allen was no longer an employee at Risedale Sports and Community College and they do not relate to his time of employment at the school, nor to any pupils, past or present."