A TEACHER who molested two young girls and had 5,000 pornographic images of children on his computer, has been jailed for three years.

Peverted teacher Richard Boddy had also shot a video in his classroom which included footage filmed down a girl's blouse, and had children's underwear in his flat, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

Police found a "shrine" to children when they raided his home, including an advertisement he had composed offering his services as a babysitter.

Boddy's sexual predilection was only unearthed when a computer repairman came to fix his high-speed Internet link, the court was told.

Repairman Martin Ashton became suspicious when he saw two photos of girls in the teacher's flat - and later discovered computer files taken from pornographic web sites.

Mr Ashton reported Boddy to the police and interviews were conducted at Boddy's school (which cannot be named for legal reasons).

Inquiries by detectives revealed that two girls had been indecently touched by the teacher, the court heard.

Interviewed by police, Boddy admitted that the computer porn was for his own pleasure.

He confessed that he had difficulties relating to adults and "saw his pupils as friends", said prosecutor Paul Becker.

Boddy, of Dentons Green Lane, St Helens, pleaded guilty to 22 offences, including indecent assault, gross indecency, taking indecent photographs and making pseudo indecent photos.

He denied 14 further offences, relating to assaults on five other girls, which were ordered to lie on file.

Judge Denis Clark told Boddy he must sign the Sex Offender's Register for life and be subject to a five-year licence period on his release from prison.

Passing sentence, Judge Clark said: "Your offending tells me that you have a deep-rooted, highly dangerous, criminal sexual obsession and fascination with young children."

The judge also awarded Mr Ashton £1,000 from public funds for his role in bringing the offences to light.