School Knew About Paedophile Threat

Education bosses were warned months ago that a paedophile was visiting a house yards from a school. The Record told on Monday how convicted child abuser Rodney Boyd regularly sits in his van outside Flora Stevenson Primary in Edinburgh.

Headteacher Ian Marchant said schools were often the last to know when offenders turned up in their area. But now the Record can reveal that the school was informed of Boyd’s visits to the street where his elderly mum lives as far back as April.

Police made them aware of the situation because Boyd is on the sex offenders register. But it was only on Tuesday – after the paper exposed the predator in their midst – that letters were handed out by the school reassuring parents their children were safe.

Marchant wrote: “I have contact numbers that can bring an immediate response where I have any concerns. This has now been done. The police informed me that action has been taken and appropriate measures have been put in place.”

Edinburgh City Council said: “The children’s safety is of paramount importance.” Boyd was seen sitting in his van outside the school for up to an hour at a time. Police are now expected to caution him. He was jailed for five years in 2000 for abusing boys aged six and eight in the 1970s.