Sex case teacher faces jail

Jul 15 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

Cunningham

A TEACHER who is facing jail for having sex with two 16-year-old pupils could also be banned from teaching for life.

Christopher Cunningham was immediately suspended by West Lothian Council from his role as an art teacher which he had held for nearly 20 years after the allegations came to light in August 2009.

And last week at Livingston Sheriff Court the 58-year-old was placed on the sex offenders register after he admitted breaching his position of trust as a teacher.

The court heard how the married father-of-two had taken the girls on trips to woods, a beach and even his own mother’s home to have sex with them.

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.

A spokesman said: “The GTC Scotland held a temporary suspension hearing on April 26 following which Christopher Cunningham’s name was marked as suspended on the register.

“This is an interim measure until such time as we can consider the case fully through our process.

“In that regard, we were awaiting the outcome of the criminal case before we proceeded and as Mr Cunningham has been convicted, we will now proceed with considering the case in the normal way.

“In terms of when we will come to consider the case — we will await details of the sentence and then proceed with an investigation.

“Any teacher who is suspended can continue to be employed in their current post, however we are aware that Mr Cunningham was suspended by his employer when the allegations came to light.”

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

Senior fiscal depute Jane Hilditch said the girls had gone to the teacher for help with some troubles.

She said: “The accused, as a teacher, has repeatedly abused his position of trust by having sexual intercourse with the fourth-year pupils.

“At the time of the offences the girls were aged between 16 and 17 years.

“Both the pupils came from problematic backgrounds. They confided in the accused regarding problems at home.”

However, sleazy Cunningham took advantage of the troubled teens’ problems to seduce them.

In May 2008 the 58-year-old drove the pair to Camilty Woods where the girls thought they were going to talk and have lunch.

But Cunningham took them to a secluded area in the wood 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.

On another occasion near the summer holidays the girls faked having a hospital appointment to meet up with Cunningham.

They were dropped off at St John’s Hospital where he picked them up and took the girls to his mother’s home in Fife, which was empty while it was being decorated, for another of his sordid sex sessions.

But by October 2008, one of the girls started a new relationship and broke off from seeing Cunningham.

She went on to fall out with the other girl over her continuation of the affair with Cunningham. The court heard that the other teen said she was “in love” with the teacher and their sexual relationship continued.

Cunningham again took her to his mum’s home and on one occasion in June 2009, took the teenager to Gullane Beach in East Lothian, again putting up a tent before having sex with her.

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 Crighton Place, Edinburgh on August 23 seizing a tent and a blanket.

“The accused spoke to his wife privately and said that he was sorry,” Ms Hilditch said. “He then stated that a letter had been received by the school accusing him of having sex with one of the girls.

“He told his wife that he had had consensual intercourse with both the girls.“His wife was shocked

“He said the girls had been having some problems.

“The accused said they were flirtatious and had come to him for help but he had got too involved.”

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

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

Sheriff Grahame Fleming deferred sentence on Cunningham until August for reports.

However, he placed him on the sex offenders register in the meantime