A GWENT schoolboy who jabbed fellow pupils with a needle has been excluded from school "indefinitely".

As the Argus reported last Thursday, 30 to 40 children at West Monmouth School, Pontypool, had to undergo blood tests for hepatitis B following the attack.

And head teacher Peter Phillips has now confirmed that the 15-year-old boy, who is from the Pontypool area, has now been excluded as a result of the incident.

He said: "The boy has been excluded indefinitely pending the LEA finding him an education elsewhere and subject to the agreement of the school governors."

As reported, the schoolboy started jabbing his fellow pupils with a sewing needle during the lunch break on Friday, January 30.

He then continued jabbing pupils with the same needle on the school bus during the journey home.

The school was not made aware of the incident until the following Monday, and letters were sent home to parents the following day.

Fourteen-year-old Lee Parry was one of those assaulted and has had to be tested for hepatitis B.

His father, David Parry, told the Argus he was still very angry about the situation.

He said: "I think it is a good thing this boy has been excluded, why should the other pupils have to put up with that kind of behaviour?

"I just hope the school has learnt from the situation and will now educate their pupils about the dangers of such stupid behaviour."

Detective Sergeant Ieuan Watkins, of Cwmbran CID, said: "We have only received four complaints about this incident and none of those people wanted to register a formal complaint.

"The offender has been spoken to and warned and we will be speaking to the headmaster.

"If any formal complaints are received from children involved in this incident or their parents they will be investigated."