Teacher may face classroom ban after posing as teenager and falsely accusing headmaster of sexual abuse

Eleri Roberts pretended to be a 13-year-old girl in a call to Childline

Llanidloes High School, where Eleri Roberts taught (Google Maps)

A teacher could be banned from the profession after she called a child counselling helpline posing as a 13-year-old girl, and falsely claimed that a head-teacher from a separate school had sexuall abused her.

Eleri Roberts fabricated the abuse allegations while she worked at Llanidloes High School in mid Wales, a tribunal heard.

Police later questioned Ms Roberts, but decided to caution her and not take matters any further.

However, the Welsh independent regulator for teachers launched an investigation into Ms Roberts’ conduct.

The Education Workforce Council’s (ECW) Professional Committee were presented with a document which stated that Mrs Roberts made a false report that a headteacher of another school had "inappropriately touched" her in November 2013, while "posing as female pupil".

An ECW spokeswoman said her actions had amounted to "unacceptable professional conduct".

The allegations against Ms Roberts were proven at an earlier hearing, she said.

A ECW panel met in Cardiff on Tuesday to decide how Ms Roberts should be punished.

However, the hearing was adjourned after Ms Roberts was unable to attend.

The panel has the power to strike Ms Roberts from the teaching register, as well as hand her a suspension order.

The ECW said the panel would reconvene at a later date.

Additional reporting by PA