Steyr (Austria) - A 48-year-old Austrian taught in several federal states for 15 years - even though he had never graduated as a teacher. He was convicted , but is not giving up and hopes to be able to teach again soon.

Christian Mayrhofer was popular with pupils, appreciated by colleagues - but it was all based on a lie.

On April 17, the 48-year-old Austrian was sentenced at the Linz Regional Court for pretending to be a teacher for years with a forged diploma. He was given three months probation.

He taught German and sport at several schools, although he had no qualifications to do so.

As he himself recountsin an interview with the Kronen Zeitung , it all began with an old love affair.

At the time, Christian had fallen in love with a teacher and also pretended to be a teacher. This is how he finally got a job at a secondary school in Vienna.

Nobody suspected anything - neither colleagues, parents nor pupils.

The scam only came to light when the 48-year-old lost his wallet. It contained several fake student IDs and even a police ID. The police became suspicious, an investigation was launched - and the lie was finally exposed.

Just a few weeks after the verdict , the man made the headlines again.

Mayrhofer says openly that he wants to go back to school. He has even reapplied to the secondary school in Steyr where he last taught.

"My class is waiting for me," says the 48-year-old.

But that's not all. As Heute reports, the man has also published a book in the meantime - entitled "Der falsche Lehrer" (The wrong teacher).

It remains to be seen whether he will actually stand in front of a school class again.

In any case, pupils and parents have written to him and hope that he will return. Some colleagues have also collected signatures for him and the principal is standing by him.