THE principal of Menwith Hill High School has defended his handling of an Internet bullying incident involving two female pupils.

Eugene Perillo said he was "not unsympathetic" to the parents of Missy Baker, the 14-year-old who fell victim to an abusive and sexually explicit website created by a fellow student.

And he said the school - which caters for the children of American personnel at the spy base near Harrogate - had to remain vigilant to the dangers and problems created by the development of the Internet.

But he said it had to work within legal parameters when dealing with incidents such as the one involving Missy.

He said the fellow student had created the website outside school on a weekend on her own equipment.

Mr Perillo said his actions were subject to review at several levels, and this was currently happening. This restricted his ability to say any more at this stage about the way the school had handled the incident.

The principal spoke out after returning to the school following the summer holidays.

The Evening Press has reported in two separate stories how the Bakers were unhappy with the disciplinary action taken by the base and the welfare support given to their daughter. We reported last night how the family was now returning early to America because Mr and Mrs Baker did not want their daughter to have to face the Principal again, and also how the American Ambassador to Britain was now being drawn into the case.

Mr Perillo was previously unavailable for comment.

Updated: 11:42 Tuesday, August 07, 2001