British teacher in Islam teddy row found guilty

British teacher Gillian Gibbons was tonight found guilty of inciting hatred after she let her Sudan school pupils name a teddy bear Mohammed.

The 54-year-old mother of two from Liverpool escaped a possible sentence of 40 lashes but was given 15 days in jail and ordered to be deported by the court in Khartoum.

Mrs Gibbons was arrested on Sunday after complaints to the Education Ministry that she had insulted the Prophet Mohammed, the most revered figure in Islam, by applying his name to a toy animal.

``The judge found Gillian Gibbons guilty and sentenced her to 15 days jail and deportation,'' said Ali Mohammed Hajab, a member of her defence team.

The director of the school employing Mrs Gibbons, however, noted that since she had already spent five days in prison, she would serve only 10 days.

“It’s a very fair verdict, she could have had six months and lashes and a fine, and she only got 15 days and deportation,” said Robert Boulos, of the Unity High School, adding that they would not appeal against the decision.

Mrs Gibbons is expected to serve out her sentence in the Omdurman women’s prison near the capital, Khartoum.

It was not immediately clear if, following the verdict in the closed hearing, she went immediately to prison.