ANDREW BEATTIE FROM HAWICK AND SELKIRK SENTENCED FOR PUPIL SEXUAL ABUSES AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In a case that has shocked the Borders community, Andrew Beattie, a biology teacher with ties to Hawick and Selkirk, has been sentenced to serve a total of 16 months in prison following his conviction for serious sexual offenses involving young male pupils. The disturbing revelations about Beattie's misconduct emerged after authorities uncovered over 1,300 indecent images of children stored on his personal computer, leading to his arrest in May 2010.

It was during the subsequent investigation that victims, who had been students at Selkirk High School during the 1990s, courageously came forward to report the sexual assaults they endured while Beattie was employed there. The court heard that Beattie’s actions represented a gross breach of trust and an abuse of his position as an educator. The sheriff overseeing the case emphasized the gravity of such conduct, stating, “You must understand the public revulsion that a teacher should possess such images.”

Details presented in Jedburgh Sheriff Court revealed that 62-year-old Andrew Beattie, residing on Longhope Drive in Hawick, had a troubling history of being a victim of sexual abuse himself. Court records also disclosed that Beattie harbored a “lifelong interest in pubescent boys,” which appeared to have influenced his criminal behavior. Beattie had previously pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children at his home, a crime that had cast a long shadow over his reputation.

Further, Beattie admitted to engaging in indecent assaults on a 14-year-old boy while working at Selkirk High School between April and August 1991. He also confessed to performing a sex act on a 15-year-old male pupil during the period from April 1995 to May 1996. These admissions painted a disturbing picture of a man who exploited his position of authority over vulnerable young boys.

During the court proceedings, Beattie’s defense advocate, Shelagh McCall, highlighted the prolonged period of anxiety and health issues that her client had endured since the discovery of the pornography at his residence. She argued that the lengthy legal process had taken a toll on Beattie’s well-being and suggested that a community-based sentence might be more appropriate than incarceration. Ms. McCall pointed out that experts had assessed Beattie’s risk of re-offending as “relatively low” and emphasized his expressed remorse and determination to avoid future offenses, stating he was “deeply ashamed” of his actions.

Despite these pleas, Sheriff Donald Corke handed down a series of sentences. Beattie was sentenced to 16 months for the indecent assaults, an additional eight months for the possession of indecent images, and four months for the indecent images offense, with all sentences to run concurrently. The court also imposed an extended supervision order lasting three years and four months, designed to monitor Beattie’s conduct after his release from prison. Furthermore, the sheriff recommended to Scottish Ministers that Beattie be deemed unsuitable to work with children in the future. As part of his punishment, Beattie was placed on the sex offenders register for a period of ten years, marking a significant step in safeguarding measures against potential future harm.