PETER HUNTER SENTENCED IN EDINBURGH FOR GROOMING TEENAGE STUDENT

Peter Hunter, a 42-year-old support worker employed at a high school in Edinburgh, has been handed a prison sentence exceeding two years after being found guilty of grooming a vulnerable teenage pupil. The case has drawn significant attention due to the nature of Hunter's misconduct and the breach of trust involved.

Hunter engaged in a disturbing and inappropriate relationship with the young girl, which spanned over a year and a half. During this period, he took her to his own residence as well as a rented flat located in the heart of Edinburgh’s city centre, where he committed acts of sexual abuse. The abuse was compounded by Hunter’s supply of alcohol and drugs to the girl, further manipulating her and impairing her judgment.

Throughout their relationship, Hunter employed manipulative tactics, falsely presenting himself as a helpful figure who was willing to assist her with her schoolwork. Meanwhile, he was sexually abusing her, touching her thighs, and making inappropriate comments while she was seated at her desk in class. The misconduct extended beyond physical abuse; Hunter also sent her explicit images of himself and instructed her to call him 'daddy,' blurring the lines of appropriate conduct and exploiting her vulnerability.

The abuse persisted over a period of 14 months, during which Hunter continued to contact the girl secretly. Despite being on bail conditions that explicitly prohibited such contact, he arranged and participated in video calls and visits, demonstrating a blatant disregard for legal restrictions. Hunter’s actions came to light following a police arrest, during which he initially refused to speak but eventually provided a detailed statement admitting to the abuse.

In court, Hunter pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activities with a child in a position of trust, covering the period from November 2023 through March of the previous year. Since his arrest in January, he had been remanded in custody. On April 24, he was sentenced to 29 months in prison. The court also imposed a 10-year ban on any contact with the victim, placed him on the sex offenders register for a decade, and barred him from working with children and vulnerable adults in the future. The case underscores the serious breach of trust and the ongoing risks posed by individuals like Hunter within the community of Edinburgh.