Former Teacher Admits Sexual Abuse Of Pupils At Private School

A former teacher at one of Scotland’s top private schools has admitted sexually abusing pupils. Jonathan Quick, retired Latin and sports teacher at Dollar Academy, admitted five charges following an investigation by police which began in 2002. The inquiry followed the suicide of a 23-year-old student who was allegedly abused by the same teacher.

{mosimage}The Herald revealed that at least three former pupils at the Clackmannanshire school came forward after learning of the circumstances of the man’s death.

The alumni, who were aged between 11 and 13 at the time of the abuse in the 1980s, claimed the teacher had touched them inappropriately.

Quick, who retired from the school in 1995, is living in a nursing home. His lawyer originally claimed he was too unwell to stand trial, but independent medical examinations said Quick was fit for the case to go ahead.

At Alloa Sheriff Court, the former teacher admitted a charge of assault with a sexual element and four charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices.

He will be sentenced on January 22. Potential sentences range from a fine to imprisonment.
Quick originally faced eight charges in relation to former pupils at the school. The Crown Office confirmed yesterday that he had pled guilty to five.

The former teacher was interviewed by police in 2002 over the claim that he abused the pupil who later killed himself.

It was only after the former pupil died that his parents learned that he claimed to have been abused at the school.

The allegations came to light because the student had discussed it with his psychiatrist.

His parents contacted Central Scotland Police in 2002, who investigated the allegation that Quick had abused him as a boy.

A report was passed to the procurator-fiscal but no further action was taken. As a result, the parents of the pupil contacted Les Brown, a former detective with Strathclyde Police who helps families who have suffered a miscarriage of justice.

Mr Brown helped trace other former pupils who said they had been abused by Quick.

Last night Mr Brown said: “We are delighted that Quick has pled guilty, it is just a shame that the case has taken so long to come to court. It is a tragic story and if Dollar Academy had donewhat it should have done at the time, it is possible this could have been stopped.”

A spokesman for Dollar Academy said: “These incidents should not have taken place in any school. Schools in 2007 are, nevertheless, very different from those of 30 years ago.

“Our children and their parents have confidence in our child protection procedures, which are regularly updated in line with best practice.”

In one instance, a boy alleged that Quick told him to go to his flat in the McNabb boarding house and allegedly abused him.
This took place in June 1981 and was reported to the school, but the boy was not interviewed by the police.

He claims Quick was subsequently removed from the McNabb boarding house but kept on as a teacher.

In the following autumn, a 12-year-old pupil alleged abuse by Quick that stretched over the course of a year-and-a-half.
As a result, she claims her confidence and school marks plummeted.

An earlier incident in the autumn of 1980, involved two boys who were late for rugby practice and told by Quick to report to his accommodation in the McNabb boarding house.