KARL HENDERSON FROM STIRLINGSIDE ESCAPES SENTENCE AFTER SCHOOL SEXUAL ASSAULT

A highly talented schoolboy musician from Stirlingshire, Karl Henderson, walked free from court after admitting to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in a classroom cupboard. Henderson, 17, who is regarded as the most gifted musician his school has ever seen, molested the girl by touching her bottom and breasts, attempting to kiss her, and touching himself while holding her against him. Although he pleaded guilty to the charges on indictment, Henderson, who was 16 at the time of the incident in January 2013, told police that the encounter was consensual.

Sheriff John Mundy took the unusual step of issuing Henderson an absolute discharge, stating that he found it difficult to determine exactly what happened. The decision led to an angry reaction from the girl’s family, who yelled, 'Don’t be molesting any more children', as Henderson left the dock at Falkirk Sheriff Court.

The incident occurred on January 14, 2013, when Henderson and the girl went to a music classroom during their lesson. Police detained Henderson two days later, on January 16, during which he maintained that the interaction was consensual and denied holding her against her will. Forensic tests revealed traces of semen on her skirt, and the girl later confided in police that she had been experiencing nightmares related to the incident.

Henderson, of Grahamshill Terrace, Fankerton, Denny, Stirlingshire, pleaded guilty to the charges. His lawyer, Gordon Addison, argued that, despite the girl being 15, there was only a six-month age difference. Addison stated, "No school in the local area will take him if he is placed on the sex offenders register. This young man is highly intelligent but his whole life will be disturbed unfairly. Society loses a very talented, very bright young man over a situation that happened in minutes between two teens in a high school cupboard."

Sheriff Mundy explained his decision, saying, "I'm going to take a highly unusual step in the circumstances. I think it's an exceptional case. It is one that is brought on indictment, which makes it more exceptional. I’m going to give you an absolute discharge." As a result, Henderson was not added to the sex offenders register.