A maths teacher found guilty of misconduct after describing Christians and Jews as 'ignorant' and telling pupils 'Islam is the true religion' can continue to teach, a professional panel has ruled.

Wakass Haruf, who taught at two of the Birmingham schools caught up in the Trojan Horse scandal, was also part of a WhatsApp messaging group where teachers labelled Lee Rigby's murder a hoax.

He made his comments on religion during a playground sermon at Golden Hillock Academy in 2013.

Mr Haruf had faced the prospect of a lifetime ban but escaped such a sanction after a number of other allegations against him were not proven.

Ruling: Maths teacher Wakass Haruf, who was found guilty of misconduct after telling pupils at Golden Hillock Academy in Birmingham (pictured) that 'Islam is the true religion', has been allowed to continue teaching

He was found to have brought his profession into 'disrepute' by making the comments in July 2013, but the panel concluded it was possible this was 'an unintended consequence arising from his choice of language' on one occasion.

At another school he worked at, formerly known as Park View in Birmingham, Mr Haruf was part of a WhatsApp group called the 'Park View Brotherhood'.

'Offensive' views were shared, including ones about the brutal killing of Fusilier Rigby by jihadi extremists in May 2013.

However the panel ruled that while Mr Haruf's messages about the soldier were 'ill-advised and inappropriate', they were 'limited'.

Mr Haruf is one of 13 teachers from four Birmingham schools linked to the so-called Trojan Horse affair accused of professional misconduct by the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL).

The alleged plot is said to involve hardline Muslims attempting to Islamise non-faith schools.

Conduct panel: At another school he worked at, formerly known as Park View in Birmingham (pictured), Mr Haruf was part of a WhatsApp messaging group where teachers labelled Lee Rigby's murder a hoax

Another teacher heard Mr Haruf making offensive remarks during prayer sessions.

He claimed that he told pupils: 'We (Muslims) have the true religion, not like those ignorant Christians and ignorant Jews.'

Mr Haruf, a Sunni Muslim, also allegedly clashed with a colleague who was a Shia.

He has a previous good record and much to contribute to pupils and the profession in the future NCTL panel chairman Paul Bompas

An NCTL panel found that while Mr Haruf's actions amounted to misconduct, they were isolated incidents.

He was an 'outstanding' teacher and just required guidance, the panel said.

NCTL panel chairman Paul Bompas said: 'He has a previous good record and much to contribute to pupils and the profession in the future.

'He has a passion both for teaching and for his subject.

'The panel is satisfied Mr Haruf has learned a salutary lesson from being linked into the wider enquiry related to Park View Trust and the panel is persuaded that the risk of repetition is negligible.

'It would be neither proportionate nor appropriate for a prohibition order to be imposed.'