Children's entertainer The Great Velcro is exposed today as a man with a police caution for slapping an autistic boy in the face.

The magician, real name Lynn Thomas, has continued to perform in schools and nurseries despite being cautioned for common assault this summer.

He was publicly shamed by Cold Feet actress Fay Ripley yesterday, after she discovered he had performed at her two-year-old nephew's nursery in Brighton.

Mrs Ripley said: "People should know what he is like, he is dangerous. He shouldn't be allowed near children."

The television star, who lives in London, saw Mr Thomas slap a nine-year-old autistic boy while she was visiting her sister in Brighton in August.

The magician lost his temper and lashed out at the child who was helping him with his act as an audience volunteer.

Mr Thomas is now facing up to the consequences of that one lapse during the show despite never being in trouble with the police before during his 30-year career.

His violence stunned a crowd of more than 20 children and parents at the show, which was supposed to be the highlight of the Queens Park Summer Fete.

Mrs Ripley, who was watching with her family, said: "I just could not believe it. He had this mad look in his eyes. The boy had thrown something at him by mistake which was supposed to be part of the act but it was an unbelievable reaction."

Mr Thomas, 63, last night defended himself, saying the incident had happened under severe provocation and was the only blemish in a 30 year career.

He said: "I always insist on children being supervised by adults at my show and this boy wasn't. He shouldn't have been on stage. He said things he should not have said."

The force of the blow made the boy's ear and face swell and turn red. The Great Velcro was arrested and issued with a police caution for common assault.

Mrs Ripley said she was appalled yesterday when she found out the entertainer was still working in Sussex.

Her sister Elise, who lives in Queens Park, spotted him performing while dropping off her toddler at Tarnerland Nursery School in Sussex Street, Brighton.

She said: "I thought I would never see him again, I could not believe he was still working after what had happened."

Tarnerland, a council operated school, said it had no idea about the incident when it booked Mr Thomas.

Headteacher Frankie Stanton said: "If we had known we would never have allowed him near the children."

She said the school had carried out a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check on the entertainer but it had not shown the caution. Ms Stanton has told Mr Thomas he would not be welcome at the school again.

Mr Thomas said: "The incident was an utter nightmare but I've learned my lesson. It will never happen again."

He offered an apology to the boy and his family.

Brighton and Hove City Council said schools were told it was their duty to conduct security checks on people working with children.

A spokesman said: "In the light of this incident we will be re-issuing the guidance to schools. People who have been cautioned for incidents of this sort against children should not be working with children in schools."

Sussex Police said cautions showed up on full CRB checks but not always on the "List 99" versions usually used by schools.

Duncan Trillo, who runs the website www.childrens partyshows.co.uk, said he had removed Mr Thomas's advert from his site and would be refunding his money.

He said: "Children's safety is absolutely paramount."

Mr Thomas, from Kemp Town, has appeared alongside Paul Daniels on television and won the International Brotherhood of Magicians competition in the Eighties. In recent years he has run a magic stall in the Open Market in London Road, Brighton.