Retired Springburn teacher denies behaving in a sexual manner towards pupils

A retired primary school teacher told a jury he never behaved inappropriately in a sexual way towards children in the 1980s.

Gerald King, 66, gave evidence at his trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court where he denied all of the allegations made by a string of former pupils from the school in the north of Glasgow.

The claims included him exposing himself and asking a schoolboy if he wanted to touch him, touching himself in front of another player and stripping off in front of another.

King admitted taking two pictures of a boy with no clothes on in February 1987.

In one picture the boy is with three other team mates in a shower after they won the league at another school in, but he claimed they were innocently taken.

The pensioner, from Springburn, Glasgow is accused of using lewd and libidinous practices and behaviour towards four boys and two girls between August 1984 and April 1989.

He also faces a charge of taking indecent photographs of children in February 1987, at Glenconner Park in Glasgow.

King said he was a teacher from 1976 until he retired last year.

He told that he was the football coach at the Glasgow school in the 1980s.

Defence counsel Gavin Anderson asked King about the pictures he admits taking, that were shown to the court in earlier evidence.

One picture is of four boys in a shower area with no clothes on and the word ‘censored’ over their private parts and another picture shows one of the same boys with no clothes on and is taken as another boy pulled a towel from him.

The picture taken in the shower was printed in the school magazine.

King said: “It’s actually a good photograph of the four boys singing and cheering that they have won the league.”

The court heard the other picture was given to the pupil along with other pictures King had taken of him in his football strip.

Mr Anderson asked: "The ladies and gentlemen heard evidence that you told the police that at the time your considerations in taking these photographs were entirely innocent, is that right?”

King replied: “Yes.”

Mr Anderson continued: “At no time was any concern raised in relation to the content of the magazine?”

King replied: “No.”

An allegation made by a witness that King exposed himself to him as a child and asked him if he wanted to touch it, was put to him.

Mr Anderson asked: “Did any such event take place?”

King replied: “No.”

He denied other allegations of exposing himself and touching himself and showing a schoolboy pornography.

King was asked if he knew “as a matter of fact” why the witnesses would make allegations against him.

He answered: “I can honestly say, no.”

Mr Anderson asked “To be clear, did you at any time during the relevant period, between 1984 and 1989, behave inappropriately in any sexual way towards any child?”

King replied: “No.”

Procurator fiscal depute Adele Macdonald said to King that he did everything that’s alleged, but he said “No”.

She put to him: “I’m suggesting you did all of these things for your own sexual gratification.”

King said: “No.”

She added: “And you abused your position of trust at the school.” King again said “no”

The trial before sheriff Johanna Johnston QC continues.