The 18-year-old student had his name changed by deed poll by his friend as a practical joke – and he is pledging to keep it.

Ima, formerly known as Robert Ashton, and Aisling Davis have been playing tricks on each other ever since they met as pupils at Rishworth School.

When he dyed her hair a patchy, dirty blonde while she was asleep, Aisling, of Sowerby Bridge, decided to take her revenge.

She knew someone who had recently changed their middle name by deed poll and wondered if it would be possible to change a name without that person knowing.

"Some friends and I thought of different names but Ima Stapler was the one that made us laugh the most," said Aisling, a teaching assistant of Burnley Road, Sowerby Bridge

"I've known him for a long time so I had most of his details. To be honest I thought it would be more difficult.

"I wouldn't have been able to do it to anyone else."
Ima, a sound and video student at Salford University, said he was surprised when he found out his name had been changed but he has seen the funny side and has no plans to change it back.

"I thought it could have been worse and it's not causing me any trouble.

"My parents weren't too impressed but there's nothing they can do. I've introduced myself when I've been out in town. People think it's great. I'm one in a million."

Now he is planning how he can turn the tables on Aisling.

"I'm going to get her back," he said. "I don't know how, but I will."
More than 40,000 people changed their name by deed poll last year.

New names issued included Jellyfish Mc-Saveloy, Toasted T Cake, Nineteen Sixty-Eight, Hong Kong Phooey, Daddy Fantastic, One-One-Eight Taxi, Ting A Ling, Huggy Bear, Donald Duck and Jojo Magicspacemonkey.

Courier Comment: Serious issue of a silly name