A teacher who was sacked after threatening to rip a student’s leg off and “throw it down your throat” and telling another pupil that he wanted her babies will be allowed to return to the classroom.

Steven Young, who worked at Ryde High School on the Isle of Wight, made a series of inappropriate comments to pupils and exchanged personal emails with a colleague during teaching time, the General Teaching Council for England (GTC) heard.

Mr Young, who taught 13 to 18 year-olds, told one pupil that he wanted her babies and then instructed her to sit next to a boy “because he fancies you”.

On another occasion, he said to a pupil who had kissed a friend: “Come along, young lady, otherwise I’ll be asking for one.”

The science teacher made other comments to pupils, asking one girl to take off her cardigan “or I’ll rip it from your cold body”. To another student he said words to the effect of: “I’ll rip your leg off and throw it down your throat so you’ll get it from your rear end.”

Mr Young taught at Ryde High from September 2000 until he was sacked in January 2010 for gross misconduct following a pupil complaint. The inappropriate incidents took place between November 2008 and July 2009.

As well as the comments to pupils, Mr Young was also found to have grabbed a Year 11 girl by her scarf and pulled her into a classroom.

Another time, he took a pupil’s mobile phone and changed its language settings. On two further occasions, Mr Young was found to have exchanged personal emails with a teacher.

“He has failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries in his relationships with children and young people and ... has failed to uphold public trust and confidence in the teaching profession,” the GTC ruled.

“Mr Young’s conduct has brought the reputation and standing of the profession into disrepute.”

However, the GTC said that Mr Young should not be barred from the classroom, instead issuing him with a reprimand that will remain on his record for two years.

The professional conduct committee said that while there had been a number of incidents, they had taken place over a relatively short period.

“We are satisfied that Mr Young has demonstrated insight into the damage that his conduct has caused to the reputation of the teaching profession,” the GTC ruled. “He has expressed genuine apologies for his behaviour and reflected on what happened.”

The disciplinary panel said that there had been no repeat of Mr Young’s behaviour and added that his actions had not seriously affected pupils.

“Mr Young has indicated that he understands that what he did was wrong and that he has no intention of doing it again.”