FIFE COLLEGE LECTURER ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TEACHING AFTER STALKING CONVICTION
A senior lecturer at Fife College has been reprimanded after being convicted of stalking her ex and his new partner.Margaret Carrick has been told, however, that she will not be struck off as a teacher.
Carrick, 59, who lives in Edinburgh, was convicted at Livingston Sheriff Court in January 2022.
Fife lecturer’s stalking lasted over four-month period The court heard how she hounded her ex and his new girlfriend over a four-month period between December 2020 and April 2021.
During one episode, she claimed that her ex’s new partner had been repeatedly contacting her via email, which was false.
She also said that his new partner had been subject to disciplinary action at her place of work, which was also false.
Carrick, 59, is said to have “bombarded” the couple with texts, phone calls and repeatedly left them voicemails.
She also monitored their whereabouts and attempted to contact them both on an exercise tracking app.
The Fife College campus at Halbeath in Dunfermline.
Image: Google Street View The lecturer was also convicted under the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act of setting up a false email in the name of her ex before contacting herself pretending to be him.
Margaret Carrick hearing Carrick, appeared before the General Teaching Council in September.
In findings just published it ruled that Carrick’s fitness to teach was impaired and that her “stalking” behaviour would have had a detrimental impact on the victims.
However she was allowed to remain in the profession.
The GTC ruled: “The panel noted that the criminal behaviour in this case was concerning.
The offence also involved some dishonesty.
“While the panel noted that the teacher had been admonished by the sheriff court in relation to the criminal matter it could not overlook the fact that there was serious criminal conduct involved.” The GTC statement continues: “The matter before the panel did not constitute an abuse of a position of trust and the panel had already noted that the behaviour concerned was solely related to the teacher’s private life and had not appeared to impact on her professional life.
No harm has been caused to a child or learner.
“The matter has been admitted by the teacher, and she has shown some insight into the behavior shown.
The panel also accepted that the matter represents an isolated incident.
While there was a course of conduct over a period of months the conduct did appear to arise because of a specific set of circumstances and within the context of a relationship which has now ended.
“The panel noted that there has been no repetition of the matter at issue since the incident concerned and that the criminal conduct occurred some four years previously.” The reprimand will stay on her record for two years.
