Teacher jailed for having sex with pupils

Sep 2 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A WEST Lothian art teacher who had sex with two teenage pupils has been jailed.

Christopher Cunningham appeared for sentence at Livingston Sheriff Court last week after he admitted breaching his position of trust as a teacher by having sex with the pupils.

The court heard how the relationships began in May 2008 after the girls had turned 16.

The married father-of-two had taken the girls on a trip to Camilty Woods in West Lothian where he pitched a tent and had sex with one of them in front of the other.

Later that month, and then again in June, the teacher took the girls back to the woods and on these occasions had sex with both the teenagers.

The 58-year-old also took one of them to a beach and even his own mother’s home to have sex with them, the court was told.

The teacher was finally caught out in August 2009 after his colleagues returned to work after the summer holidays to find letters from one of the girls outlining what had been going on.

Shocked teachers called the police who raided Cunningham’s home in Edinburgh on August 23, 2009.

The following day Cunningham tried unsuccessfully to take his own life, the court heard.

After his release from hospital he was interviewed at Livingston Police Station where he admitted having sex with both of the girls.

Solicitor advocate Richard Goddard, defending, told the court his client had been dealing with the death of his father and pressure at work at the time of the offence.

He added that Cunningham was full of remorse and regret for what had happened.

“There have been no prior incidents with the hundreds of pupils he has previously taught,” Mr Goddard said.

“He has spent 36 years in teaching profession and has an unblemished record.

“No matter the sentence of this court today all of that effort and dedication and distinguished service has been ruined by what he accepts as complete foolishness and his totally and utterly unacceptable behaviour.

“He realises the total inappropriateness of what took place. He takes full responsibility for the offence.

“This peculiar and particular case was a result of the coming together of a number of circumstances which can never be repeated given he will never teach again.

“This is a case where at all material times the complainers were aged 16 years or above. It is only a criminal offence by the existence of a position of trust.”

Mr Goddard said the case had impacted greatly on his two daughters and his wife of over 25 years.

He added: “This whole affair has had a profound impact on the whole family particularly on Mrs Cunningham. Showing a remarkable spirit of forgiveness she continues to give him her full support.

“He describes his guilt at letting her and other family members down as almost unbearable.”

Jailing Cunningham for a year Sheriff Grahame Fleming said he accepted that until the offence he had an unblemished professional life and was under material stress.

“Nevertheless this was a gross breach of trust by you,” Sheriff Fleming added.

“These two young girls came to you for advice and help and were clearly vulnerable – over and above the normal vulnerability of a 16-year-old.

“You were a teacher at their school, yet for more than a year you had sexual intercourse with them, on occasion with one in front of the other.

“You knew what you were doing was wrong yet persisted. In these circumstances, having regard to the nature of the offence, I consider that no sentence other than prison is appropriate.”

Now Cunningham faces being struck off and losing his career as a teacher after the General Teaching Council Scotland said it was launching an investigation into the case.

West Lothian Council has already moved to sack Cunningham from his £30,000 a year post.