A HEADTEACHER downloaded porn from the internet during school time, says a secret report seen by the Manchester Evening News.

The claim is one of a series of shocking allegations listed by auditors who spent six months investigating Brian Lees, 56, the head of Glossopdale Community College.

They are in a report by Derbyshire's chief education officer Roger Taylor which says 2,000 pornographic images, some described as hardcore, were found on a school PC used by father-of-three Mr Lees.

The document says: ''He has downloaded pornographic material when he should have been carrying out his duties.'' Based on the findings of the auditors, the report said child pornographic text was found - featuring a story containing graphic descriptions of an incestuous relationship between a mother and her 12-year-old son - on the same computer. No child porn images were found.

Websites

Auditors are also reported to have found porn website addresses stored among Mr Lees's ''favourites'' on a lap top computer he used, with names like Teens Online, College Babe Series, Club Seventeen and Free Teen Gallery.

The auditors said the laptop was password protected and ruled out accidental internet access or access by another person.

The former magistrate was suspended in February, 2000, after an allegation from a member of staff of financial irregularities.

A criminal investigation into allegations about £300,000 was shelved because Mr Lees has been declared too ill to face prosecution. Seventeen months after he was first suspended no action has been taken against him, although he remains suspended.

The secondary school head continues to draw his £66,000 salary despite offering to resign in February. Governors will not say why they refused to accept his resignation.

Mr Lees's wife Jean denies some of the allegations in the report and insists he has been made ill because of his ''obsessive'' devotion to the school.

Suspended

The report reveals the porn on the PC was ''erased'' in February, 2000, just before he was suspended, though it was not removed from the hard drive.

The report says auditors consulted the police who told them it was ''distasteful and clearly not suitable to be held or displayed in schools''. But police concluded it was not criminal and no investigation was held.

Mr Lees remains the subject of a Derbyshire Police investigation about alleged financial irregularities.

It is claimed he used school money to buy computer equipment worth £38,528. The report also lists a £112 blood pressure monitor, a £150 walking machine, a £319 digital camera, a £100 CD player, for which it is alleged he was reimbursed by the education authority.

Mrs Lees says much of the IT equipment was used to set up what effectively was a school office in their home next door to the school. She adds the spending was not unreasonable as it was over a period of 11 years.

Chairman of governors Dr Joe Holly refused to say when a disciplinary hearing will take place.