THE headteacher of a top private school has been fined £17,000 for putting children and staff in a position of danger by breaching health and safety regulations.

THE headteacher of a top private school has been fined £17,000 for putting children and staff in a position of danger by breaching health and safety regulations.

During one inspection at Barnadiston Preparatory School, near Haverhill, health officials discovered a live wire containing about 240 volts dangling next to a toilet, which could have proved fatal if touched.

At South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court in Ipswich yesterday, Colonel Keith Boulter, who lives with his wife at the school, was fined a total of £17,000 for the five offences and ordered to pay almost £15,000 costs.

He admitted breaching five health and safety rules.