Student editor admits to hoaxing rival newspaper

Philip Brook, 19, who was previously at a school in Wakefield, an editor of The Cambridge Student, leaked a false news story to The Tab, a rival student publication.

He is reported to have emailed the rival paper pretending to be a girl who was offered a first- class degree by a senior lecturer in return for sexual favours. But in fact, there was no such incident.

His claims were even backed up with a fake letter purporting to be from Dr Matthias Dorrzapf, head of St John’s College, which supposedly claimed an investigation had been launched.

But the letter was later found to be a fake when it was found that Dr Dorrzapf was not even in the country at the time and emails were traced back to Mr Brook’s computer at Girton College.

Mr Brook was spoofed by The Tab into running a fabricated story about bog snorkelling.

Mr Brook has admitted he acted alone adding: “It was a serious lapse of judgment and I apologise unreservedly.”

He said he had nothing further to add at this stage.