Teacher facing jail term over stash of child abuse images

DUNDEE: Parents of children at St Francis PS told why teacher was sacked after court case

A teacher is facing jail after being caught with a stash of child abuse images.

Stuart Grant, 33, was sacked as a teacher at St Luke’s and St Matthew’s RC Primary School – now known as St Francis PS – in Dundee after his arrest on the charges last May.

But parents only learned of the true reason for his dismissal when they received a letter from the school’s head teacher following his guilty plea at Forfar Sheriff Court.

The court was told Grant had downloaded a haul of indecent images of children over the course of almost four years.

Head teacher Neil Lowden moved to reassure parents that children from the school were not involved in the images Grant had amassed.

In his letter to parents, the head wrote: “It is with regret that I am writing to inform you that Stuart Grant, previously a member of the teaching staff at St Luke’s & St Matthew’s, has appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court charged with offences relating to indecent photographs of children.

“He pled guilty to these charges today and will return to Forfar Sheriff Court for sentencing at a later date.

“I am able to confirm that there is no evidence to indicate that any of the children involved in the photographs were pupils of this school (previously known as St Luke’s and St Matthew’s) or any other school in Dundee.

“I understand how upsetting this information will be and I would like to assure you that our school follows all the necessary child protection measures and procedures to protect all children in St Francis.

“Mr Grant has not been teaching in our school since he was arrested on these charges in May last year.”

Grant, of Almond Place, Dundee, pleaded guilty on summary complaint to charges of taking or making indecent images of children between September 11 2008 and June 4 2012 at an address in Kirkcroft Brae, Liff.

He further admitted possessing indecent images of children at the same address on November 30 2011.

Grant faces a maximum one year prison sentence.

Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown deferred sentence until April 12 for social work background reports and released Grant on bail meantime.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register in the interim.

Mr Grant has not been teaching in our school since he was arrested on these charges in May last year. HEAD TEACHER NEIL LOWDEN