Internet prankster pays penalty

A schoolboy from a top public school has been suspended after posting a picture of his teacher on a website with an invitation for gay men to "get in touch."

The prank backfired when Ashley Elliott (17), who attends Charterhouse in Surrey, was caught after the email he sent to the site, www.thegumtree.com, was traced back to a school computer following a complaint by the school.

The pupil was suspended for a week for his actions against married father of three, Nigel Hadfield.

Hadfield was contacted by men who saw the advert on London's online community for Aussies, Kiwis and South Africans, that said he was looking to share "close encounters."

A school spokesman, said: "A boy was suspended after posting inappropriate material on an internet site concerning a master. There was no truth whatsoever in what was posted."