A Glenrothes driving instructor has been found guilty of showing an obscene photograph and making sexual remarks to teenage pupils during lessons.
Sheriff Peter Braid accepted the evidence of two of Ian Wilson’s young pupils as “credible and reliable.”
At the conclusion of the summary trial at Kirkcaldy, the sheriff ruled that Wilson (56), of Rimble Loan, had conducted himself in a disorderly manner and committed a breach of the peace by making comments of a sexual nature to two pupils on various occasions between January 1, 2008 and August 31, 2009. Wilson was also found guilty of touching a male learner driver’s body and showing two pupils an obscene photograph.
During the trial Samantha Kennedy (18) and her boyfriend Marc Nicholson (21), both former pupils of Wilson’s, gave evidence.
Sheriff Braid told Wilson, “I found Marc Nicholson and Samantha Kennedy to be both credible and reliable in their evidence and prefer their evidence to yours. Your evidence was either vague or incredible, or both.”
Wilson had been charged with showing two indecent photographs to his pupils but this was reduced after Sheriff Braid decided that one of the images featuring someone wearing a “mankini” in the style of the comedy character Borat was not necessarily obscene.Bizarre behaviourThe court heard there had been “bizarre behaviour” during driving lessons. During one lesson Wilson told Miss Kennedy of an incident when someone had stripped naked in the back of the car.
Giving evidence, Wilson said he had been “very relaxed” with his pupils to “get the best out of them.” He also told the court he “should have been more authoritative.”
Wilson said three of his learner drivers would introduce the subject of sex into their conversation “very mildly, in a joking manner.” In her submission depute fiscal Ellie Oakley said Wilson’s evidence had suggested collusion between witnesses and hinged upon the suggestion that one of the learner drivers had started a campaign against the instructor after his driving test had been postponed. “It doesn’t make sense,” she said.
Wilson’s defence solicitor said one pupil had had a “large number of driving lessons” and recommended Wilson to others before police became involved.
Earlier in the hearing Miss Kennedy said that during her lessons Wilson would tell her “sex stories” and show her sexual images on his phone. She said she was 17 at the time and “quite naive.”
Sheriff Braid deferred sentence until September 6 and called for social inquiry and community service reports. Wilson’s name was added to the sex offenders register.