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A BC teacher has been banned from teaching for 15 years after he went to meet up with a 15-year-old boy he'd met through a gay dating app.

According to an Aug. 8 BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation decision, Mark Louis Pierotti contacted what he thought was a 21-year-old man through the dating app Grindr.

However, the 21-year-old wasn't real but an adult pretending, in order to "catch" sexual predators.

In a message, the headteacher said the 21-year-old was "sexy" and invited them over for a drink.

He then got a reply saying he wasn't 21, but actually 15 years old.

READ MORE: BC teacher who demeaned vulnerable student reprimanded

Pierotti responded saying he couldn't connect with him if he was underage and expressed doubt that he was anything other than 21.

"So, You 21. I just don't want to go to prison. So is it 21. I won't serve alcohol to anyone under 20. Wanna connect and chat?" Pierotti replied.

The decision says the following day more messages were sent.

"You like to make out," one message read.

In another message, Pierotti said the age of consent in BC was 16.

"Just need to know you are 16 or older," a message said.

The man replied "16 in like 4 months."

"You know, better not. You are too young and it's not legal. So when ur of age let me know. I can come and hi and we can meet just so you know I'm not a jerk."

The teacher sent another message saying "I'm guessing you have hooked up w older guys before."

READ MORE: BC teacher met student on dating app, then lied to investigators

The final message Pierotti sent said, "I'm on my way we can talk and go from there."

Minutes after sending the final message the teacher went to meet the teen.

"Pierotti was sitting in his car and drove away as the person came up to the window on the driver's side, while recording the car and Pierotti with his phone," the decision reads.

The person then posted the messages and video on Facebook.

Days later on Aug. 27, 2022, the school fired him from his position, described as the head teacher at the private school.

The decision doesn't say which school he taught at, but an article in Chek News says Pierotti taught at Aspengrove School, a private K-12 school north of Nanaimo.

He signed a consent agreement with the regulator admitting to his behaviour.

READ MORE: Lengthy ban for BC teacher who met student on Tinder, sent explicit photos

"After being told that the Youth was 15 years old, Pierotti continued to send messages, some with sexual content, and also arranged to meet the Youth. Pierotti was aware of the age of consent and that sexual activity with a 15-year-old would be criminal in nature," the decision reads.

"Pierotti's conduct became known to the public through the Facebook posting. Piertotti's conduct undermines the public's confidence in the education system," the regulator said.

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