Maths teacher at £12k-a-year school held over ‘child porn’
A MATHS teacher at a leading private school has been arrested over alleged possession of child abuse images.
Parents were told yesterday that Craig Woods, 51, had been suspended from Hutchesons’ Grammar School, in Glasgow, ‘pending a police investigation’.
It is understood that officers swooped on his home last week as part of an ‘intelligence-led operation’ which allegedly uncovered indecent images. He has been absent from work since then.
Parents yesterday received an email reassuring them pupils and staff had not been put at risk. Last night, a Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘Following an intelligence-led policing operation on February 23, police searched a property in the Paisley area under warrant. A 51-year-old man was arrested and detained in police custody for an alleged contravention of the Civic Government Scotland Act 1982.
‘A report has been sent to the procurator fiscal.’
It is understood the arrest relates to the discovery of child abuse images and that Woods appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court on February 24.
Last night, a Hutchesons’ Grammar spokesman said: ‘I can confirm that a member of staff at the secondary school has been suspended pending investigation.
‘It would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time and we would direct any inquiries to Police Scotland.’ An email to parents said they should be ‘assured that we are fully aware of the issue and the circumstances’ and the matter was being dealt with ‘appropriately’.
It added: ‘We have been assured by Police Scotland that pupils and staff have not been and are not at any risk.’
But one parent said: ‘The statement claims no one is at risk, but it is hugely concerning that someone facing such a serious allegation has been teaching children.’
Former pupils of the school, which charges up to £11,574 a year in fees, include Transport Minister Humza Yousaf, former Lord Chancellor Derry Irvine, TV presenter Carol Smillie and Radio 2 DJ Ken Bruce.