A former grammar school teacher who downloaded naked photos of young boys has been spared jail.

Martin Davies, who taught at The Skinners' School in Tunbridge Wells until 2007, faced up to six months in prison after he admitted seven charges of making indecent images of children.

But the 64-year-old was given a community order with 36 months supervision and a condition to attend a sex offenders' treatment programme by a judge who said he had taken his previous good character, remorse and exemplary conduct at work and in the community into account.

Maidstone Crown Court heard a total of 188 images were found on Davies's computer in April last year.

Police were alerted after a computer technician discovered the child porn while upgrading the computer system and backing up data on the external hard drive.

Prosecutor Craig Evans said all the photos had been deleted and were inaccessible. Search terms used included 'pre-teen boy' and 'getting a boyfriend at the age of 11 to 13'.

Davies, an English teacher who taught at the school for 40 years, later told police he had a sexual interest in boys aged 11 to 18.

"Images of boys on naturist sites and in swimwear were the images he liked to view," added the prosecutor.

Mark Hunsley, defending, told the court the offences occurred out of curiosity during a "very low and difficult" time in Davies's life.

"He felt shame and embarrassment and after a period, and to his credit, he stopped himself" - Mark Hunsley

But he added that Davies, who continued in a voluntary role at the school until last year, later found them "quite boring and aimless".

Handing in seven character references to Judge Philip St.John-Stevens, Mr Hunsley said: "When he started viewing them he felt he was lulled into an alternative reality.

"But he felt shame and embarrassment and after a period, and to his credit, he stopped himself."

As part of his sentence Davies, of Birchetts Avenue, Langton Green, must sign on the sex offenders' register. He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order with limitations as to his use of devices with access to the internet.

Judge St John-Stevens said the correct sentence of the court was one with an element of rehabilitation.