A SCHOOL carpenter used his mobile phone to try to take a photograph of a naked schoolgirl in the bath.

Philip Box attempted to take the indecent photograph through an open window at boarding houses of Malvern St James School for Girls and also used his phone to take pictures of indecent images displayed on a computer at Malvern Library.

The 57-year-old married dad, of no fixed address, admitted five charges at Worcester Magistrates Court. He has lost his job of 13 years at the school, and his wife now refuses to speak to him, the court was told.

Box admitted voyeurism and attempting to make an indecent image of a child on Tuesday, January 25 (relating to the bath incident), possessing 52 level one indecent images of children, and two charges of making indecent images of children. Level one images are the lowest level of pornography on a scale of one to five.

Mark Soper, prosecuting, said the schoolgirl got in the bath, but hadn’t shut the window. He said: “She saw a hand containing a mobile phone pointing into the bathroom.She immediately told the staff.

“Not only is he trying to take the photograph of the girl trying to take a bath but there is a huge breach of trust. He works there. He has worked there for 13 years.

"Instead of ensuring the safety of these young ladies, he’s put them in fear of being photographed in a vulnerable position.

“For years he has had an obsession with adult pornography and this has escalated to a desire to see child pornography.”

On Wednesday, February 9, Box was seen looking at child pornography on a computer at Malvern Library.

Mark Turnbull, defending, said Box had been suffering from depression and was a man of previous good character. He said: “Mr Box states in police interview that the image was in fact blurred and he couldn’t see anything on it so he immediately deleted it.

"It’s an attempt to make an image – he never in fact managed to do so. His wife has said she doesn’t want to speak to him and that he’s not welcome at their address.”

Box was remanded in custody until Friday, March 18, when he will be sentenced at Worcester Crown Court.

After the hearing, Patricia Woodhouse, headmistress of Malvern St James, released a statement which said Box, like all staff, had been subjected to criminal records bureau checks.

“I would emphasise that MSJ takes the strongest possible line on ensuring our pupils are protected from potentially harmful influences both in person, on the internet and at school,” she said.

“The girls’ pastoral care and wellbeing are at the top of our agenda, and we work tirelessly to ensure that our pupils stay alert and safe in the modern world.

"The school’s reputation for ‘outstanding’ pastoral care was borne out in our recent Boarding Inspection by Ofsted."