JOHN FALCONER FROM NAIRN CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN SCOTLAND

A 61-year-old driving instructor from Nairn has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two of his former students, marking a significant case within the Scottish legal system. The conviction follows a detailed trial at Inverness Sheriff Court, where the court heard harrowing testimonies from the victims and examined the nature of Falconer’s conduct over several years.

John Falconer faced a total of ten charges related to sexual assault involving ten women. However, after the trial proceedings, he was acquitted of eight of these charges. The court's focus was on the two charges for which he was convicted, both involving inappropriate physical contact with two different women. The incidents in question took place during the years 2017 and August 2021, with the victims aged 17 and 21 at the time of the assaults.

The court heard that Falconer had touched the women’s breasts during or immediately after driving lessons, as well as outside their homes. Victims described the nature of the contact as invasive and unwelcome, with one recounting an incident where Falconer squeezed her breast until it caused discomfort. She described the act as involving a firm grip, squeezing until it hurt, which she found to be quite uncomfortable. These detailed testimonies painted a disturbing picture of unwanted physical contact that went beyond professional boundaries.

Throughout the trial, Falconer maintained that he had no sexual intent behind his actions. He claimed that any physical contact was accidental and insisted that he was simply being friendly. His defense argued that he often used his hands during lessons for instructional purposes and that any touching was unintentional. Falconer also admitted to hugging students, asserting that such gestures were meant to be friendly and not sexual in nature. Despite his denials, the jury found sufficient evidence to convict him of two charges involving inappropriate touching of the victims’ breasts on multiple occasions.

Following the verdict, Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald deferred sentencing to a later date, citing the need for a social work report and an evaluation for a sexual offenders’ treatment program. Falconer was ordered to register as a sex offender immediately, a legal requirement that will remain in effect moving forward. The court has scheduled the sentencing for next month, during which the full extent of his punishment will be determined. Until then, Falconer remains on bail, awaiting the final outcome of his case.