Head teacher banned over cruelty

MacDonald admitted causing the boy "unnecessary suffering"

The head teacher of a special needs school who pleaded guilty to a charge of cruelty against a pupil has been banned from teaching for 18 months.

David John MacDonald, 52, from Cirencester, Gloucestershire, initially denied the allegation.

He was also sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work, when he appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday.

Macdonald previously admitted causing the nine-year-old boy "unnecessary suffering", after the earlier denial.