Two people have been warned they face jail after admitting accessing CCTV footage of the post-mortem of footballer Emiliano Sala.

48-year-old Sherry Bray and 62-year-old Christopher Ashford appeared at Swindon Crown Court after an image was circulated on social media which showed the Argentinian striker's remains at the Holly Tree Lodge mortuary in Bournemouth following his death in a plane crash.

Argentinian striker Emiliano Sala died in a plane crash in January Credit: PA

Ashford, of Calne, admitted three counts of securing unauthorised access to computer material between February 9 and 11 this year.

Bray, of Corsham, admitted three counts of securing unauthorised access to computer material between April last year and February this year.

She also admitted perverting the course of public justice by instructing Ashford to "delete your pics" on February 12, and the next day deleting the post-mortem cameras from the live feed camera facility and deleting the post-mortem image of Sala from her mobile phone.

Judge Peter Crabtree warned the pair that the starting point for sentence was custody.

The pair were released on bail to appear at the same court on September.

The plane Emiliano Sala was travelling in disappeared from radar over the Channel Islands Credit: PA

Julian Bray, Sherry Bray's brother and the managing director of Camera Security Services, the company for which the pair worked, said:

We were utterly shocked at the completely unacceptable behaviour by two members of staff. I take the confidentiality and privacy of all our clients extremely seriously and when this incident was discovered we immediately suspended them both. We have fully supported the police investigation and are pleased that both individuals recognised the seriousness of this, and have pled guilty, bringing this unfortunate episode to an end. The unnecessary distress and grief this caused the family of Mr Sala, given the tragic circumstances of his death, is unforgivable. I extend my sympathy to them for what has clearly been a very difficult time. Julian Bray

Cardiff City signing Sala was being flown from France to Cardiff when the plane lost contract with Air Traffic Control north of Guernsey on January 21. His body was found on February 4.