A FORMER head teacher from Filey has pleaded guilty to possessing almost 9,000 indecent images of children.

Terrence Ladlow, 73, of Hamerton Road, Filey, admitted 24 separate charges at York Crown Court, yesterday, including owning 8,867 illegal images. The offences took place between 2005 and 2010.

The Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, told Ladlow he must sign the Sex Offenders Register and ordered him to return to court on September 5 for sentencing.

Psychiatric reports are to be carried out on Ladlow before the sentencing is carried out.

Judge Ashurst told him: “Before you leave the dock today you must understand that the fact bail has been extended must not be taken by you of any indication or promise of what your sentence may be.”

Ladlow is understood to have began teaching in primary schools at the age of 22 and spent 33 years in the profession; rising to head teacher.

He is believed to have taught throughout the UK including posts in Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, Portsmouth and Hull.

He moved to Hunmanby in 2004 from Wetwang, near Driffield, and became the church organist at St Oswald’s Church, in Filey.Ex-head admits owning 8,800 indecent images