WILLIAM GARY LAWSON

William Gary Lawson, aged 56, a former police officer, was convicted in 2015 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court of making inappropriate and unsettling remarks to a 15-year-old girl over several months.

Despite his guilty plea for causing fear and alarm to the teenager, Lawson was only fined £200 and was not prohibited from working with children.

The girl, who is now 16, reported that Lawson told her to "show off her body" and go "skinny-dipping," among other inappropriate comments, many made when she was alone.

Her parents reported the incidents after she confided in them.

Lawson, a father of four and former Royal Ulster Constabulary officer, previously worked as a harbourmaster in Scotland and targeted the girl while in this role.

The teenager’s mother criticized the leniency of Lawson’s sentence, believing he should have been banned from working with minors.

Lawson was cleared of another charge of sexual assault.

Currently, there are concerns about safeguarding and vetting procedures at the school where Lawson is employed, although he declined to comment.

The school and the Education Authority stated that all appropriate protocols had been followed and emphasized that safeguarding children remains a top priority.