Thefts appeal
Police are appealing for information following a number of thefts in East Kilbride and Strathaven.
●Fishing equipment worth more than £1100 was stolen from Sandford Road bridge in Strathaven on Wednesday, August 23 at around 5.30pm.
A Fiat MV was parked on the bridge and its window was smashed and the equipment stolen.
●Overnight into Friday, August 25 thieves forced entry via a window to a unit in Wilson Place, Nerston, and stole a two-figure sum of cash, a safe box and various items.
Two men and a white vehicle were captured on the premises by CCTV.
●Kype Muir windfarm near Strathaven was targeted shortly after midnight on Sunday, August 27.
A metal container was forced open and a large quantity of copper cabling was stolen from within.
Three male suspects were seen at the site wearing hoodies. A Nissan 4x4 MV was also captured on CCTV.
●Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. A perverted secondary school teacher who abused three girls has been struck off the teaching register.
Bruce Rankin from Strathaven was locked up in May after admitting a string of abuse between December 1, 2010 and June 29, 2014 with two of the victims aged between 14 and 16.
The 58-year-old was jailed for 18 months after being told there was no alternative given he was in a postion of trust and had breached it.
His lawyer Marco Gaurino told the court he had been“praying”for his young victims and had sought solace in his faith.
One of his victims was assaulted at the North Lanarkshire school where Rankin taught before his retirement in 2014.
He admitted placing his hand on her bare thigh and moving her legs apart, making a sexual remark as he did so.
The court also heard Rankin received a written warning from his former school in 2012 following complaints from another pupil over inappropriate touching and comments.
Rankin also touched his other two victims on an intimate area over their clothing in Glasgow and elsewhere.
Charges covering the offences were lodged against Rankin by the General Teaching Council for Scotland at a hearing this month.
Rankin was not present but the report published on the teaching council’s website reads:“It was clear that he admitted the allegations and sought to be removed from the register.
“The panel was satisfied that the respondent had waived his right to attend the hearing.
“Once the respondent’s name has been removed from the register, his name remains so removed unless and until an application for re-registration is made by him and a fitness to teach panel directs that the application be granted.
“The panel directed that he should be prohibited from making an application for re-registration for a period of two years from the date of removal.”
During court proceedings, lawyer Mr Gaurino said the shamed ex-teacher voluntarily took steps to ensure he didn’t have access to vulnerable groups and renounced his protecting vulnerable groups certification.