A deputy head of Princess Diana’s old school has escaped a jail sentence for possessing indecent images of a teenage pupil.

A judge told William Whillock he had committed “a very grave breach of trust”.

Formerly known as West Heath, the teacher, known as Bill, taught at The New School, near Sevenoaks, and was a designated child protection officer there.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he formed an inappropriate relationship with the pupil and was caught with pictures of her naked on his mobile phone.

Whillock, of Headcorn Road, Staplehurst, admitted four charges of possessing indecent images of a child between November 10 last year and January 14.

The father-of-three denied causing or inciting the girl to engage in sexual activity while in a position of trust and the charge was left on the court file.

Whillock, appearing on his 57th birthday, was given a three-year community order with supervision and ordered to attend a sex offenders’ programme.

But Judge Philip Statman said the law did not allow him to impose a sexual offences prevention order or place Whillock on the sex offenders’ register.

Andrew Collings, prosecuting, said the offences came to light in January when the headteacher at the school, which teaches children with severe social problems, told police of concerns about Whillock’s relationship with the girl.

Inappropriate text messages passed between Whillock and the girl, who he called “princess”, and she sent him 14 pictures of herself, either naked, topless or in her underwear.

They were all at level one, the highest being five.

Officers arrested Whillock at the school on January 14 and seized his mobile phones and computer.

One teacher looked at the victim’s phone and saw about 70 texts from Whillock, calling her princess and gorgeous and asking her: “Are you OK to send pics?”

He texted back after receiving one picture: “Hello princess, that’s really beautiful.”

Mr Collings said the girl was defensive of the teacher and had looked to him for support. She indicated she wanted to self-harm and kill herself.

She brandished a knife at the school, which was taken from her. She was taken to hospital to assess her mental state.

West Heath closed in 1997, the day after Diana and Dodi Fayed were killed in a car crash in Paris. It reopened in 1998 as The New School, after a donation from Mohamed Al Fayed.