August 2020
Pervert teacher jailed after years of abuse on vulnerable young schoolgirls
A PE teacher with a history of child abuse has been jailed for 16 months after admitting preying on two more vulnerable pupils.
Sheriff Douglas Brown heard how sleazy Bruce Rankin had nicknames for one of the girls and would cuddle her.
We told you in 2017 how the pervert admitted abusing three young girls between 2010 and 2014, including at the school where he taught them.
Now the Strathaven-based beast has admitted to two further historical charges between 2007 and 2010.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard how the 61-year-old abused one girl who was being bullied and another who was suffering from depression.
One girl, who was between 13 and 15 at the time of the abuse, thought Rankin was trying to comfort her when he cuddled her and told her not to let people “get her down”.
Passing sentence, Sheriff Brown said Rankin was guilty of a breach of trust, adding: “The court has to make plain that such behaviour by a teacher is completely unacceptable and must be dealt with severely.
“Given the serious nature of the offences, the only appropriate sentence is imprisonment.”
The victims came forward after hearing their ex-teacher had been convicted of molesting other pupils.
Rankin, of Whiteshawgate Highway, admitted charges of lewd and libidinous behaviour and indecent assault.
Neil Thomson, prosecuting, told the court: “Sometimes he would put his arms around her and touch her breasts through her clothing.
“The first time this happened she thought it might have been an accident, but this behaviour was repeated on a number of occasions – too many to be accidental.
“He also touched the girl’s buttocks under the guise of trying to hurry her along.”
Mr Thomson told how Rankin’s second victim suffered from anxiety and depression at the time of the abuse.
The then 16-year-old was allowed to study alone in the school library and Rankin would join her there. He had nicknames for her and would cuddle her.
The Fiscal said: “While they were sitting the accused would touch her leg and keep his hand there while talking to her.
“On more than one occasion he rubbed the inside of her thigh. On one occasion she slammed a book down on her lap which caused him to pull away.”
He was jailed for 18 months at the same court in 2017, but that sentence was overturned on appeal and he was instead put under supervision for three years and ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid community work.
That’s despite Sheriff Shona Waldron saying there was no alternative to custody given the gravity of the offences
During his previous case, it was revealed that Rankin had a written warning against him from a former school – that dated back to 2012 following complaints of inappropriate touching and comments.
Rankin retired from teaching in 2014 and was later struck off by the General Teaching Council for Scotland.
The sentence was reduced from two years because of his guilty pleas.
Rankin was also put on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.
June 2020
Perverted PE teacher guilty of sexually abusing teenage girls at school
A PE teacher abused teenage schoolgirls he was trusted to help care for.
Bruce Rankin of Strathaven picked on the vulnerable pupils while working at a school in Lanarkshire, that can’t be named for legal reasons.
The 61-year-old took advantage of his position to prey on one girl who was being bullied and another who suffered from depression.
And he was finally brought to justice at Hamilton Sheriff Court where he admitted his vile behaviour
The case called three years after the pervert was jailed for 18 months for abusing three girls, including two at the same school.
However, that sentence was later quashed at the Appeal Court.
He was instead put under supervision for three years and ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work.
Rankin pleaded guilty to charges of lewd and libidinous behaviour and indecent assault in the latest case yesterday.
Prosecutor Neil Thomson said the victims in the latest case went to the police after seeing reports of Rankin’s 2017 conviction.
Rankin abused them between 2007 and 2010.
The first victim was aged 13 to 15 at the time. She thought at first that Rankin was only trying to comfort her when he cuddled her.
Thomson told the court: “Sometimes he would put his arms around her and touch her breasts through her clothing.”
He said the behaviour was repeated too many times to be accidental.
The second victim was 16. Rankin would join her in the school library when she was studying alone.
The prosecutor said: “The accused would touch her leg and keep his hand there while talking to her.
“On more than one occasion he rubbed the inside of her thigh.”
Sheriff Douglas Brown deferred sentence until August.
Rankin, who retired from teaching in 2014, had his bail continued.
October 2017
Ex-Strathaven teacher out of jail
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