Teacher: Child porn was out of concern

BARRIE, Ontario, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- A Canadian retired teacher charged with having child pornography on his computer told an Ontario court he viewed it out of concern for a troubled student.

David Carswell, 54, told court in Barrie, north of Toronto, the images found on his computer and a subscription to a child porn site were a result of his concern for a male student about 10 years old, the Toronto Star reported.

He said the youth was caught viewing pornography on a school computer, which alarmed him and made him suspect the youth was involved in it.

He said he didn't contact police with his suspicions, but alerted the principal instead.

One of the sites he subscribed to was a fake one set up by police in the United States. Those officials notified the Ontario Provincial Police, who seized Carswell's computer in March 2005. He was arrested the following July.

Prosecutors wrapped up their case last November, and the defense portion will resume on Dec. 4, the Star said.