Former teacher accused of abuse

Man on trial faces allegations he abused pupils at Fife school

A former teacher at a Fife school has gone on trial accused of abusing pupils.

A man and a woman claimed Robert Taylor, 70, preyed on them 20 years ago as his trial began at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court. The allegations came to light when police launched an investigation into the school.

The woman claimed Taylor began touching her “inappropriately” as he taught her when she was 13.

Taylor was accused by the man of “flicking” him on his private parts, spitting at him and slamming a door on his arm.

Taylor denies allegations of sexually abusing two boys and a girl and assaulting and indecently assaulting one of the boys between 1998 and 2003.

A former teacher has gone on trial accused of sexually abusing three pupils at a school in Fife.

Robert Taylor, 70, denies the offences against two boys and a girl, said to have started in 1998.

A woman told Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court that Taylor used to put his hands in her blouse and up her skirt to touch her as he taught her at a computer.

He also locked the door and made her touch him when they were alone in his classroom, she alleged.

Another former pupil alleged Taylor used to “flick” him on the private parts, spit on him and slam a door on his arm.

Taylor, of Musselburgh Road, Dalkeith, is accused of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards the children on various occasions while they were aged 11 to 15.

He is also accused of assaulting and indecently assaulting one of the alleged victims.

The offences are alleged to have occurred at the school, in a vehicle and at a house elsewhere in Fife over five years to 2003.

On the first day of his trial yesterday, before Sheriff James Williamson, the court heard former pupils were contacted by police during an investigation into the school.

The woman told jurors the abuse would occur while she was put in Taylor’s classroom alone to protect her from being bullied. Even when other pupils were present, she alleged, Taylor would touch her as he walked past.

She said: “I would just sit there in shock. He always told me if I told anyone he would make me out to be a liar because no one would believe me.”

She claimed she told school staff, social workers and doctors of her abuse at the time and when she told her grandparents they “just said I was doing it for attention”.

However Taylor’s solicitor, David Bell, said there was no mention she had reported sexual abuse in either her medical or social work records.

He said: “Is the true position that you didn’t tell anyone about anything happening at the time because there was nothing to tell?”

The woman replied: “That’s not true.” Mr Bell suggested that allegations made by the woman and a man who also claimed to be a victim were made out of anger towards the school where they both admitted they had a bad time.

In his evidence, the man said Taylor would hit him on his crotch with the back of his hand when he was acting up in class and also claimed the accused would join in when he and fellow pupils talked about sex and girls.

The trial continues.