A school teacher has admitted sexually assaulting a boy as young as eight years old as he slept.

Craig Keane, 28, of Wickford, was caught on camera inappropriately touching the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The design and technology teacher, who taught at Mayflower School in Billericay until 2013 and volunteers as a Special Sergeant for the Metropolitan police, admitted nine different child sex abuse charges at Snaresbrook Crown Court today.

Prosecutor Jeremy Hayes told the court that the child was asleep at the time of Keane's attack and the incident was caught on camera by another child.

The court also heard that during his work as a volunteer special constable with the Met Police, Keane volunteered to grade indecent images of children.

The charges do not relate to his time at the Mayflower, or the Sandon School in Chelmsford, his most recent job. Neither do the charges relate to a pupil from those schools.

Following his arrest, Mr Keane was suspended from his position at Sandon School, which then followed its safeguarding processes.

He was also suspended from his duties as a MSC officer, a voluntary and unpaid role.

In a letter sent to parents, The Sandon School head teacher Jo Wincott wrote: "We have been informed by the Metropolitan Police that one of our teachers, Mr Craig Keane, has been formally charged with offences that fall under the area of child protection/safeguarding.

"I wanted to write to you personally and ensure that you found out this news directly rather than via the press or social media.

"The charges are not related to anything that has taken place at the school or involving students at The Sandon School."

Keane will be sentenced on March 20.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “It beggars belief that Keane committed such vile crimes while holding positions of responsibility.

“He abused a vulnerable young boy in his sleep and his depraved actions will have a lasting effect on his victim.

“We hope Keane receives treatment as part of his sentence to lessen the risk he poses to children in the future. Sexual abuse ruins childhoods and it’s absolutely vital that Keane’s victim receives support to overcome what has happened.”

Anyone concerned about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC’s helpline on 0808 800 5000. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111.