had AIDS.

Daniel Clay Smith, 18, of Ord Road, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to publishing defamatory matter about another person.

Smith passed several letters to Whitney Institute students on May 22 last year.

Crown counsel Larry Mussenden told Senior Magistrate Will Francis Smith beckoned two students to the fence at the school and handed them copies of a letter about another female student.

The letter was allegedly written by the student and claimed that she had contracted AIDS from an older man and continued to have unprotected sex.

The copies circulated until teachers became aware of them. Police were called and a copy was secured for investigation.

Smith later gave a voluntary statement to Police. He claimed he had been approached by a man in Hamilton to hand out the letters at the school for $100.

Mr. Mussenden told Mr. Francis that if the case had gone to trial, the contents of the letter would have been shown to be false.

"What has happened is the character and reputation of a young school girl has been tarnished,'' Mr. Mussenden said.

"Yes it must have been a harrowing experience,'' Mr. Francis replied.

Smith's sobbing father told Mr. Francis: "I would like to apologise to the family. I feel hurt for her family.'' Smith also apologised, adding: "I didn't have any money and a guy offered me $100. I'm sorry.

Mr. Francis set the case down for a social inquiry report. Smith was ordered to return to court on April 15 for sentencing.