2010: HAWICK DRIVING INSTRUCTOR GEORGE BORTHWICK ORDERED TO SIGN SEX REGISTER
A driving instructor, George Borthwick, aged 60, has been ordered to sign the sex register after pleaded guilty to assaulting a teenage girl during a driving lesson.He repeatedly patted and touched her on the thigh and leg during lessons on August 25 in Hawick, Roxburghshire.
The court heard he admitted to touching her to see how far she would go and had overstepped professional boundaries.
Although allegations of more serious sexual contact were dropped, Borthwick's name was placed on the Sex Offender's Register following his guilty plea.
The sheriff deferred the sentence until March 26 for background reports, but ordered his name to be placed on the register on an interim basis.
The judge noted his age and the instructor/pupil relationship as aggravating factors.
Borthwick, who runs his own driving school, was due to stand trial on two charges but changed his plea to guilty to a reduced charge of repeatedly patting her on the thigh and leg in various streets of Hawick.
His wife made comments about proving his innocence in court.
