NICOLA PARK FROM BEARSDEN SENTENCED IN GLASGOW FOR SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH SCHOOLGIRL

In June 2022, a disturbing case involving a teacher from Glasgow who engaged in a sexual relationship with a teenage pupil has garnered significant attention. Nicola Park, aged 42 and residing in Bearsden, was initially sentenced to 27 months in prison in April after being found guilty of grooming and engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl. The incident involved a period of inappropriate contact that spanned from December 2016 to April 2019, during which Park exploited her position of trust at a prestigious private school.

Park, who served as an assistant housemistress and also taught mathematics and social education, developed a close and inappropriate relationship with the young girl. The girl, who confided in Park about personal struggles, was subjected to grooming that included secret meetings and intimate encounters. The relationship was characterized by Park calling the girl “my angel” and sharing private moments at her home, which further blurred the boundaries of professional conduct.

Their contact persisted until 2020, when the girl moved on to university. It was only after this that she disclosed the nature of her relationship with Park to her doctor, prompting a police investigation. During a search of Park’s residence, authorities uncovered evidence linking the teacher to the girl, including photographs of a sexual nature. These findings solidified the case against her, leading to her guilty plea at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

In her plea, Park admitted to engaging in sexual activity with the pupil while in a position of trust, with the offences taking place over a period of more than two years. The court heard that the grooming process involved significant planning, with Park deliberately engineering situations where she was alone with the girl, including in her car and at her home.

At the time of the offences, Park was employed at the school, which is known for its high academic standards. The court was told that the girl became distressed in December 2016 and sought support from Park, who responded with a degree of understanding, citing her recent separation from her husband. The teacher offered emotional support and maintained contact outside school hours, exchanging emails on Christmas and New Year’s Days. Park also adopted the nickname “Auntie Nic” and signed off messages with kisses, further complicating the inappropriate nature of their relationship.

Following her conviction, Park was sentenced to 27 months in prison. However, her legal team successfully argued that this sentence was excessive, leading to a reduction to 16 months after an appeal. Despite this, the Court of Criminal Appeal, with judges Lord Matthews and Lord Doherty presiding, rejected pleas for a non-custodial sentence. In a detailed written judgment, Lord Matthews emphasized the severity of the misconduct, stating that the grooming and planning involved demonstrated a significant breach of trust and professional responsibility.

Park’s conduct was described as a serious abuse of her role, with the court highlighting that her actions included kissing, touching, and engaging in sexual acts with the adolescent girl. The judge underscored that such behavior was unacceptable for someone in her position of authority and trust. As a result, Park was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years, and her details were flagged to authorities as being “unsuitable to work with children.”

Sheriff John McCormick condemned her actions, stating, “This was not a momentary lapse in an otherwise unblemished career in teaching. This was abuse of trust by a teacher in her late 30s with an adolescent young female that included kissing, touching and engaging in sexual acts. You were a teacher and it was you who was in a position of responsibility and trust. Such is the gravity of the offence, the time it occurred and the professional role as a teacher at the school, in my opinion there is no alternative to a custodial sentence.”