DAVID WRIGHT FROM STEWARTFIELD AND WESTWOOD JAILED FOR ATTEMPTED RAPE IN FRANCE AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Stewartfield and Westwood, David Wright, a 40-year-old man with ties to East Kilbride, has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for a heinous attempted sexual assault on a nine-year-old boy during a holiday in Brittany, France. The incident took place while Wright was on a caravan holiday with the young victim, whom he had befriended through acts of kindness such as offering sweets, a tactic often used to gain the trust of children.

Wright, who was until his arrest the head coach at the Stewartfield EK Judo Club, was found to have committed this grave offense in August of the previous year. The young boy, from South London, kept the ordeal to himself for nearly eight months before confiding in his mother in March of this year. The court was told that Wright’s actions included attempting to rape the child on the second night of their holiday, after initially engaging in inappropriate behavior. During the attack, Wright told the boy he “couldn’t help it because you’re so beautiful,” and warned him not to tell his parents, threatening to end their friendship and send him to prison if he did.

In addition to the assault, Wright admitted to multiple charges including sexual activity with a child, sexual assault, and possession of indecent images. It was revealed in court that he had a disturbing collection of child pornography stored on his home computer in Riccarton, Westwood. The material included 454 photographs and 101 videos, which Wright kept as part of a sickening library of paedophile content. The court also learned that Wright had long struggled with inappropriate attractions, admitting that he had been attracted to boys aged 12 to 14 since his youth, although he claimed to have previously managed to control these urges.

Wright’s professional life was also scrutinized during the proceedings. He worked as a principal pastoral care teacher at Cleveden Secondary School in Glasgow, a role that involved providing guidance and support to pupils. His barrister, Barry Kogan, described him as “a much loved and well-respected teacher,” emphasizing the impact of his downfall. Wright’s arrest in March this year led to his suspension from working with children indefinitely, and he announced plans to relocate to a remote part of Scotland to begin anew.

In a heartfelt, self-pitying letter read out in court, Wright expressed remorse and regret for his actions. He stated, “For a few moments of madness I have effectively blown my life apart. I have lost my career in teaching, I have lost my career in judo. I have lost my community as I can never return to my flat in East Kilbride. This is the first experience I have had in my life of people hating me.”

Wright also claimed that he had given up hopes of pursuing a medical career to avoid contact with boys, instead choosing to teach computing in 1995 and later working in pastoral care. Despite his remorse, the court was told that he had been attracted to young teenagers since he was a teenager himself, though he had managed to keep these feelings under control until the recent incident.

Judge John Roberts, presiding over the case at the Old Bailey, sentenced Wright to five and a half years in prison. He emphasized that Wright had controlled his urges for decades before succumbing to temptation in this instance. The judge noted that Wright’s decision to abandon his medical studies was a preventative measure to avoid potential misconduct. The judge also highlighted the tragic fact that the young victim, only nine years old at the time, carried the burden of these traumatic events for eight months before revealing the abuse to his mother. The court’s verdict underscores the severity of the crimes committed and the profound impact on the young boy and the community at large.