Ex BBC producer had hoard of indecent images of children

An assistant headmaster and former BBC producer amassed a secret hoard of more than half a million indecent images over 20 years.

David Allison, 48, of Ottershaw, Surrey, has now been jailed for three years after police raided his home and found the massive haul – some of which he had taken on secret cameras hidden around the school where he worked.

Officers found several devices containing images of children taken and recorded around the school, including images showing girls undressing.

Allison admitted four counts of making indecent photos of a child, one count of recording a private act and another of voyeurism by installing equipment.

Judge Robert Fraser was told that detectives are still trawling through the images as part of the fast-track prosecution of the teacher.

Disgraced Allison, who was hoping to become a headteacher, appeared at Guildford Crown Court on Friday afternoon, where the court heard he was the official photographer at the prestigious private Catholic school where he taught.

The 48-year-old paedophile, who had previously worked as an assistant producer in London and had experience on camera and as a newsreader, was told by a judge that it was both depressing and devastating that a man of his background had ended up in court.

Police found 635,902 indecent photos and 15,332 videos on Allison’s computer when they raided his home on November 29 last year.

Disgraced Allison, who was hoping to become a headteacher, appeared at Guildford Crown Court (pictured) on Friday afternoon, where the court heard Allison was the official photographer at the prestigious private Catholic school where he taught

The 48-year-old was found with 5,038 category A images – the worst level – 8,693 category B images, and 84,300 category C images.  

Search words including ‘pre-teen’, ‘hardcore’, and ‘lolly’ were also found on his computer. 

‘Recent access to a live stream website out of curiosity was when he felt he had crossed the line,’ said prosecutor Mr Harris. ‘He kept the images and movies on a single hard drive and one day said he would draw a line on it and put the disc through the shredder.’

Allison admitted three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of taking indecent images of children and two counts of voyeurism at an earlier hearing.

Defending him, Sarah Read said Allison fully understood that he needed to be punished.

‘He is deeply ashamed and disgusted in himself and is aware fully of the far-reaching impact on those that are affected,’ she said.

Sentencing him to three years in prison, Judge Fraser said he found it depressing and devastating that somebody of Allison’s background had ended up in court.

‘This is an extremely serious case, not just because of the sheer quantity, but also your position,’ he said.

Detective Inspector Martin Goodwin said after the sentencing: ‘These indecent images showed the girls’ underwear and had been taken without their knowledge.

‘In working with the school extensive work was carried out by detectives in order to identify victims and ensure that the children and their families could access any specialist support they needed.

‘This man blatantly abused his position of trust, giving innocent pupils a false sense of security. He allowed them to believe they were safe from this sort of exploitation and deceived parents and work colleagues alike.

‘We have now put a stop to his predatory behaviour and prevented him from continuing with his criminality.

‘The sentencing of this individual sends a message to those abusing a position of trust that you will be caught.

‘Whilst this won’t reverse what he has done, putting this man in prison will ensure his offending does not continue.’

Allison also received a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and was placed on the Sex Offenders register for life.