Retired Renfrewshire music teacher jailed for historical abuse

A retired music teacher who abused two of his pupils almost 40 years ago has been jailed for four years. William Wright, 78, preyed on the teenagers while they were pupils of a school in East Renfrewshire.

One woman, who is now aged 54, told a jury that she was "terrified" of Wright.

The female, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told jurors that she felt helpless at being unable to object to the abuse because she needed his help to get through exams.

Wright, of Elderslie, Renfrewshire, was sent to prison four years after judge Lord Arthurson told the pensioner that he needed to be punished for his crimes.

Passing sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Arthurson told Wright that he had no other option but to reject his lawyer Mark Moir's request for a non custodial sentence to be imposed.

He added: "I cannot accept that a non custodial disposal can be imposed in this case. This court needs to hold you to account for your deplorable and predatorial conduct in respect of the crimes you have committed.

"Your behaviour has caused your victims, who are now aged in their 50s significant and lasting psychological problems.

"Your conviction has been catastrophic for you. Nonetheless, this court needs to impose a significant custodial sentence."

During proceedings at the High Court in Glasgow last month, the grandad-of-eight claimed he had "no explanation" why the women would make such allegations.

But, a jurors convicted him of two charges of using lewd and libidinous practices and behaviour and a charge of indecent assault towards the two women between August 1974 and June 1981.

A police probe into married dad-of-three lead to the women, now 54 and 57-years-old, being tracked down.

The 54-year-old fought tears in court as she said she was "too afraid" to speak up at the time about what was happening to her.

She told prosecution lawyer Sheena Fraser: "I was terrified of him, he was a man who had a temper and I just didn't put up any objection.

"I felt at the time, I was 13/14 years of age, at this stage decided I wanted to do music when I left school - I needed him.

"There was nobody to go to, it was only him, there was nobody else you could do your music lessons with."

Wright often put his fingers into her shirt and underwear, while in a sound-proofed practise room.

He would brazenly carry out the abuse at times while she sat at the piano with him, sometimes when other pupils were sitting at the other side of it.

She said: "He would on occasion take my hand and put it in his pocket" and described how he would have her touch his private parts.

In her sixth year at school Wright took her from one of the music rooms into a cupboard and carried out sex attack on her.

She said: "He took me by the wrist, he took me in to the music cupboard, he locked us both in and then pushed me down on the floor."

Wright attacked her, then told her 'not to come out for a couple of minutes'.

He then gave the tearful schoolgirl a run home because she had missed the school bus.

Wright, who sometimes plays the organ at Elderslie Kirk, denied any wrongdoing.

He said was "quite gutted" at the suggestion he was a predator at the school.

In evidence he told the jury: "It just wasn't me. Simple as that, it just wasn't me."

On Tuesday, Wright turned up for sentencing with a sports bag carrying his personal possessions.

Defence counsel Mark Moir said his client maintained he was innocent of any wrong doing but accepted the verdicts of the jury.

Mr Moir said Wright had been assessed at a low risk of reoffending and that his advancing years meant he posed little risk to public safety.

The advocate said that with these factors available, Lord Arthurson could consider imposing a non custodial sentence.

Mr Moir said: "I'm inviting your lordship to consider the possibility of a non custodial sentence. Mr Wright is now 78-years-old and although he is in good health any custodial sentence at this time in his life would amount to a life sentence."

However, Lord Arthurson told Wright he had no other choice but to send him to prison.