A SENIOR teacher who worked at one of Suffolk’s top independent schools has today been charged with making more than 44,000 indecent images of children.

William Stansbury, who was assistant head and a former head of sixth form at Ipswich School, is due to appear in court next month.

Stansbury, 45, formerly of Dock Street, Stokebridge Maltings, Ipswich, is facing five charges relation to child pornography.

The allegations cover the period between April 4, 2005, and August 15, 2012.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk Constabulary said: “A man has today, Wednesday, been charged with five counts of making indecent / pseudo images of children, relating to over 44,000 images.

“William Stansbury, aged 45 years, from Glenmoor Road, West Parley, Ferndown in Dorset and formerly from Ipswich, will appear before South East Suffolk Magistrates Court on Wednesday, January 2.”

Stansbury left Ipswich School in August.

The school’s headmaster Nicholas Weaver said: “We are obviously very shocked and saddened by this news regarding a former employee. We have written to our parents to reassure them that the charges do not relate to any pupils at Ipswich School. Throughout the investigation we have worked closely with the police and Suffolk Safeguarding, who have confirmed that we have acted entirely appropriately under the circumstances.”

In a letter to parents given to pupils today, Suffolk County Council’s safeguarding manager Tina Wilson asked them to contact Mr Weaver if they had any concerns regarding today’s news.