A Kentucky Catholic school principal is on "personal leave" from his post after being discovered by cops sitting in his car "wearing an all-black, leather, woman's outfit, fishnet stockings and women's black plastic breasts" in a Louisville neighbourhood "known for prostitution and narcotics".

Paul A Schum, 50, was found by Louisville Metro police officers late on Tuesday "dressed as a woman and wearing bondage gear". They became suspicious when Schum offered them "conflicting stories about why he was parked in the alley dressed as a woman".

Schum wasn't arrested, but must appear in court on 27 November on a misdemeanor prostitution rap. He is head at Bethlehem High School in Bardstown, described as a "Christ-centered, college preparatory, co-educational high school that challenges students to develop spiritually, academically, socially, and morally in the Catholic tradition".

According to ABC news, the local archdiocese released a statement on Wednesday which suggested it will conduct its own investigation into the incident. It said: "Per our policy, Dr. Schum has requested and is taking personal leave from his position as principal of Bethlehem High School pending the outcome of the investigation." ®

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