Former PE teacher abused boys for 27 years, court rules

A former PE teacher at a private school in Edinburgh exploited his position of trust to physically and sexually abuse young boys, a court has ruled.

John Young, 91, preyed on the children while working at The Edinburgh Academy between 1966 and 1993. The pensioner was deemed medically unfit to be criminally tried or to appear in court.

However, following an examination of facts at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, a sheriff ruled on Monday that Young had repeatedly abused children, with 26 charges found to be established. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said evidence was heard from 24 former pupils and three other witnesses.

Some of the victims detailed how Young punished pupils for perceived bad behaviour, including punching them or hitting them with a cricket bat, megaphone or wooden wedge. In 1992, the mother of a pupil wrote a letter of complaint to Young over his requirement for boys to remove their underpants prior to putting on their gym shorts.

While accepting the "stated reason" was to avoid the youngsters spending the rest of the day after gym in sweaty underpants, she argued it caused "considerable embarrassment" and was not the practice at other independent schools. The mum stated: "I do not think that it is a reasonable practice for boys of this age and I have asked the opinion of many of the other mothers in my son's year who are also against it." Read more:School apologises for 'brutal and unrestrained' treatment of pupils COPFS said many of the victims told of how they continue to be traumatised and struggle to trust figures of authority due to the abuse they suffered.

The court had previously determined that the accused was not fit to stand trial and ordered an examination of facts, where the procurator fiscal depute and the defence led evidence, which was tested before a sheriff. Young was found to have committed 26 offences, which included eight counts of lewd and libidinous practices and behaviour; four counts of breach of the peace; five counts of assault to injury; five counts of assault; three counts of indecent assault; and one count of cruel and unnatural treatment.

Young's abuse appears to have coincided with that of fellow teacher John Brownlee, who also preyed on boys at The Edinburgh Academy - which included BBC presenter Nicky Campbell. Brownlee, who was also deemed medically unfit to stand trial, was last year found to have "inflicted sadistic cruelty" on those in his care at the school between 1967 and 1991.

Campbell, who was a student at the fee-paying school between 1966 and 1978, described Brownlee as a "sadist" and told a court how he was violently beaten by the teacher in a corridor. Prosecutor Fiona Kirkby said: "John Young systematically abused young boys, over a period of 27 years, while holding a significant position of trust as their teacher at The Edinburgh Academy.

"He had a duty of care to nurture and support these children but instead intentionally exploited his power to violate and humiliate them. "This examination of facts is a public airing of the facts and an acknowledgement that what happened to these children in the past was criminal.

It should never have occurred. "It is now a matter of public record that Young committed offences including lewd and libidinous behaviour, indecent assault and cruel and unnatural treatment.

"The court's finding today also sends a clear message to abusers: no matter who you are, when the abuse happened or how long after the event it is reported, there will be a robust response from prosecutors.".