A teacher in Northern Ireland has been sentenced to two years in prison after being caught with 70,000 pornographic images of children.
53-year-old Steven Vincent Colton, with an address at Ballygoskin Road in Crossgar, Co Down, pleaded guilty to 30 specimen charges of making indecent images of children at Craigavon Crown Court today.
He was a history and politics teacher at Sullivan Upper School in Holywood, Co Down, when police raided his home.
They had launched an investigation after his payment details were used on websites depicting child pornography.
During the search, police uncovered over 67,000 still images, along with 180 hours of video footage involving children as young as six.
During his trial, his barrister described Colton as 'inspiring teacher', known for his stimulating and challenging classes.
However, passing sentence, the judge said his conduct was ‘virtually unspeakable.’
He was also banned him from ever working with children and instructed that his name be added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Colton will also spend three years on probation when he is released from custody.
