ART TEACHER JAILED FOR SEX ASSAULTS ON FEMALE PUPILS
James Skelton Smith, a 57-year-old former art teacher from Dundee, received an eight-month jail sentence after being convicted of multiple indecent and sexual assaults against female pupils over a period of nearly a decade, from 2008 to 2019.Following his trial, Smith, who was dismissed from his teaching position, was found guilty of indecent assault, sexual assault, and breach of the peace.
The court noted his inappropriate behavior, including habitual actions such as dropping his pencil to crawl underneath desks.
He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years.
Sheriff John Rafferty described Smith’s actions as 'abhorrent,' highlighting that the offences occurred while he held a position of authority and trust, and that one victim had mental health challenges.
It was revealed that Smith sought out, befriended, contacted her through social media, presented her with gifts, and then committed indecent assaults.
The sheriff observed that Smith displayed little to no remorse or understanding regarding the consequences of his actions, emphasizing his abuse of power and failure to show remorse as significant factors in the court’s sentencing decision.
