A former head teacher who systematically sexually abused primary school pupils over a five-year period has been jailed for two years.
Stephen Lavery was described as “abhorrent” as a sheriff read victim impact statements which showed his weekly abuse had caused lifelong torment.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told that Lavery, now 70 and retired, had grossly abused his position to carry out scores of sex attacks on young boys.
Marking society’s disapproval
Sheriff Lorna Drummond said: “In the circumstances, given the abhorrent nature of the offences, it is necessary to punish you and mark society’s disapproval of this type of behaviour.
“In my view custody is the only appropriate sentence. I am taking into account the victim impact statements. It is clear to me your offending has had, and continues to have, a significant and profound impact on them, psychologically and physically.
“The first charge happened over two years, on six or seven occasions when he was a primary school pupil and you were assistant head teacher at the time.”
She added: “The second relates to a primary pupil at a different school over a three year period. It is described as occurring on a weekly basis when you were head teacher.
“I don’t need to tell you these are serious offences and a serious breach of trust between pupils and a teacher. I not only take into account the nature of the offences, but the period of time and their frequency.”
Horrendous offences
Even Lavery’s own solicitor, Billy Rennie, said: “He is a man who has carried out horrendous offences many years ago.”
Lavery, who lured one of the boys into his office under the false pretence of discussing football, was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.
The court was told that another boy told the police in 1995 about how he was attacked by Lavery, also an ex-football scout, at a different school in the city.
However, nothing was done until the other victim came forward in 2018.
Lavery, who was previously placed on probation in 1995 for similar offences, was locked up yesterday after pleading guilty to two separate charges of lewd, indecent or libidinous practices between May 1988 and July 1993.
Social services informed
Lavery served as an assistant head teacher at the school where the first boy was abused between 1988 and 1990.
Prosecutor Stewart Duncan revealed how the boy told support services and police in 1995 he had been indecently touched by Lavery but no action was taken against him.
Mr Duncan said: “The complainer in the second charge came forward in late 2018. It was later uncovered that the previous allegation had not been dealt with.
“The first complainer described how the accused asked him to go to his room to discuss why he left school early.
“The accused asked him to sit on his knee and then put his hands down his trousers and pants and touched his genitals.”
Lavery then touched the boy’s naked back and buttocks. The victim revealed there were later five or six similar attacks in Lavery’s office.
Preyed on another boy in 1990
The pervert began abusing his next victim in 1990, after he had been promoted to the role of head teacher at another Dundee primary school.
Lavery, who was also a football scout for Dundee city schools, would bring the boy into his office and ask him if he would touch his friends.
Mr Duncan said: “The complainer did not know what to say and would just agree with what he said.
“The accused would close the curtains of his office, hold him by the waist with both hands and press against him.
“He appeared to be excited with what he was doing, breathing deeper and quicker.”
Lavery would take the boy into his office almost every week under the guise of discussing football.
“The complainer would go straight back to class and did not understand what happened,” Mr Duncan said.
“He was the head teacher who he trusted. The accused would ask him about being involved with another boy and would ask him if they touched each other.”
In 2018, the victim shared his ordeal with the police. Married father-of-two and grandfather-of-four Lavery was arrested in July 2019.
Victim speaks out
Lavery, of Somerville Place East, Dundee, pled guilty to using lewd, indecent or libidinous practices towards the first child on various occasions between 4 May 1988 and 28 January 1990.
On various occasions between 1 August 1990 and 30 July 1993, Lavery admitted using similar practices towards a second child.
Solicitor Billy Rennie said Lavery’s offences occurred prior to his conviction in 1995 for similar conduct and he had made considerable efforts to stay away from children for the last 25 years.
Outside court, one victim, now in his 30s, said: “I just went completely off the rails after all that happened. I turned to drink and drugs. I couldn’t hold down a job.
“Every time something good happened I would just go into self-destruct mode. It took me a long time to speak to someone about it and I finally told my mate about it in 2016.
“I was wanting to take my own life. People’s lives have been destroyed by what he did. He was sneaky, he was underhand.
“I was going from getting good grades to being expelled from school. He would put words in your mouth and get you to say things that he wanted to hear.
“I ended up on the edge and nearly committing suicide but I’m seeing a psychiatrist and a psychologist now. I don’t feel anything about him now.
“He changed everything, I didn’t trust anybody. I would urge anybody in a similar position to go and seek help, speak to somebody. Don’t feel ashamed, it’s not your fault.
“If I can save just one life by speaking out about this then I’d be over the moon. He has got away with this for so long, he deserves to go to jail. He shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it and he needs to pay the price.”
