DUNDEE TEACHER WHO SEXUALLY ASSAULTED PUPIL WITH HEIMLICH MANOEUVRE LEAVES COURT IN LATEX MASK DISGUISE
A drama teacher at a secondary school in Dundee, named Stephen Gillespie, was recorded on mobile footage using the Heimlich manoeuvre in a manner that involved sexually assaulting a young girl in front of her classmates.The footage showed Gillespie with his arms around the 13-year-old's waist, repeatedly pressing his body against hers and making "grunting" sounds in August 2025.
Gillespie argued that his actions were not sexual but were part of a demonstration to show the dangers of choking on chewing gum.
However, after the sheriff dismissed his account, he was convicted of one count of sexual assault on a summary complaint and subsequently registered as a sex offender.
At his sentencing, Gillespie, who is also an author, left the court covering his face with a latex mask.
The court ordered a supervision period of one year and required him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
The judge described the incident as a 'terrible lapse in judgement' and highlighted the serious consequences of his conviction on both his career and personal life, despite noting his clean professional record beforehand.
Evidence presented included the video footage as well as testimonies from the victim and witnesses.
Although Gillespie maintained his innocence, he accepted the conviction.
The court considered the breach of trust involved and determined that the conduct was sexual based on the evidence.
