caven muirhead Child Sexual Abuser

January 2013 Teacher Caven Muirhead jailed for sexually abusing boys A primary school teacher from Clackmannanshire who sexually abused two of his boy pupils after taking them on holidays and trips has been jailed.

Caven Muirhead befriended his victims’ parents and groomed the boys for sex between 1989 and 1996.

At Stirling Sheriff Court in November, a jury found him guilty of five charges of using lewd and libidinous practices.

Sheriff William Gilchirst sentenced Murihead to 18 months in prison.

During his trial, the 56-year-old, was described as “a paedophile in the Jimmy Savile mode”, who abused his young victims in caravan parks, woods, and in his bedroom, as his own elderly parents sat downstairs.

Respects verdict Muirhead had previously denied his crimes, but his solicitor, Alistair Milne, said “it was “something he now accepts”.

Mr Milne said: “He is intelligent enough to respect the jury and their verdict.

He has no previous convictions and he was a teacher for in excess of 30 years.

“He has received letters of support for his position and saying he was a valued teacher “There has been a significant period since the most recent offence, and there is no evidence of these actions continuing.” Muirhead, from Tillicoutry, targeted the boys over a seven-year period between 1989 and 1996, treating them to outings which were described by Suzanne Hutchison, prosecuting, as being like “every little boy’s dreams”.

They included go-karting, trips to the Knockhill racing circuit in Fife, drives in “sporty cars”, a visit to Navy Day and the airshow at RAF Leuchars, a visit to see the Nimrods in Lossiemouth, Glasgow Motor Show, and Perth Leisure Pool.

But after getting their trust he touched them indecently and performed sex acts on them, and in front of them.

Trust breached The younger of the two victims, now 31, said he had not told on Muirhead when he was young “because he was a teacher in a position of trust”.

He told the court that Muirhead warned him not to tell anyone, saying: “He said it was as much my fault as his, and if it came out I’d get into more trouble.” He added: “It’s the same as Jimmy Savile, where it didn’t come out because he had a big reputation.” Sheriff Gilchirst told Muirhead he had breached the trust placed in him.

He said: “You were convicted by a jury of serious offences towards these two boys and this involved a breach of trust placed in you by these boys, and by the wider community as a teacher.

A custodial sentence is the only disposable possible.

“I have to take into account the impact this had on the complainers”.

Sheriff Gilchrist added: “I realise any custodial sentence will have a severe punishment element, but it is the only disposable the court can consider.

“You will also be referred to Scottish ministers to be put on the list of persons unsuitable to work with children.” November 2012 Primary teacher who took pupils on dream trips before abusing them compared to Jimmy Savile found guilty A PRIMARY school teacher branded “a paedophile in the Jimmy Savile mode” took pupils on trips before sexually abusing them.

Caven Muirhead, who blushed when giving evidence, groomed two boys before abusing them in caravan parks, woods and in his bedroom as his elderly parents sat downstairs.

Muirhead, 56, targeted the boys, brothers who are now in their 30s, between 1989 and 1998, by making friends with their parents.

He treated them to outings which were described by Suzanne Hutchison, ­prosecuting, as being like “every little boy’s dreams”.

They included karting, trips to Knockhill race track in Fife, visits to Perth Leisure Pool and to see Nimrods at RAF Lossiemouth.

On the way back from an RAF air show at Leuchars, Fife, he stopped in a layby and locked two other boys in the car as they slept.

Muirhead took the younger brother into woods, where he made him watch as he performed a sex act, Stirling Sheriff Court heard.

He performed a similar act in his own bedroom in ­Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, and abused the boy twice on a caravan holiday.

His victim told the court that after the abuse in the bedroom: “He said it was as much my fault as his, and if it came out I’d get into more trouble.” Asked by Miss Hutchison, “Did you believe him?”, the man, speaking from behind a screen, replied: “Yes.

He was a teacher.

Who was going to believe me, a 12 or 11-year-old?” He agreed that ­Muirhead was “a paedophile in the Jimmy Savile mode”.

He clashed with Jamie Gilchrist, QC, defending, when asked to look at photos of himself on the caravan holiday.

The man said: “Why has he got ­photographs of me?

The man’s a beast.

I tried to commit suicide four times because of this.

I can’t sleep at night.” The court heard Muirhead had earlier targeted the elder brother in a caravan at Findhorn Bay near ­Lossiemouth and after showing him a porn film.

The victim said he buried the knowledge for years until he told health professionals in 2010.

His brother then blew the whistle too.

Muirhead claimed he was at a Butlin’s camp with two other small boys at the time of the abuses.

He went red when Miss Hutchison said how freely he gave his time to children.

A jury found Muirhead guilty of five charges of using lewd and libidinous practices and behaviour.

Sheriff William Gilchrist deferred sentencing and granted Muirhead bail.