A headteacher has admitted to watching the livestream of a ten-year-old girl getting sexually abused while on drugs.

Ex-Acland Burghley associate headteacher Paul Newbury, 50, admitted to gathering 2,000 sexual abuse images of children and possessing class A drugs.

Newbury was using the username ‘north London’ which National Crime Agency (NCA) investigators proved led to his home in Wood Green, Haringey.

In February 2018 NCA officers arrested Newbury and found drugs at his home which included 717 milligrams of cocaine.

Newbury admitted possession of Cocaine, GHB, Methadrone and Crystal methamphetamine, for personal use, which he used while watching the livestream of the 10-year-old girl.

He also admitted making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

A review of his digital devices identified more than 2,000 child sexual abuse images and videos ranging from category A (the most severe) to category C.

There is no evidence to suggest he was in sexual contact with any children and no evidence to link his offending to the school which sacked him on March 7 2018.

Today, at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court, Newbury admitted four counts of making indecent images of children, one of distributing indecent photographs of children, two counts of possessing class A drugs, possession of a prohibited image, showing an indecent photograph of a child, and possession of an extreme pornographic image.

He will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

NCA operations manager Graham Ellis said: “Newbury and men like him who make and distribute horrific images of children are fuelling online child sexual abuse.

“The NCA knows that the scale and severity of this offending against children is worsening.

“Newbury was present when the live abuse of a 10-year-old girl was committed.

“Though his offending was not connected to his school, he is guilty of a tremendous betrayal of trust.

“The NCA and our law enforcement partners will not stop pursuing child sex offenders and will do everything in our power to bring them to justice.”

A spokesperson for Acland Burghley School said: "Families and students have been informed of today's events.

"We are now working with the relevant agencies to ensure the whole school community receives support as we move forward."

The 10-year-old victim whose abuse was live-streamed was identified and safeguarded by authorities in the United States.