DAVID WRIGHT KERR FROM EAST KILBRIDE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT IN FRANCE AND UK

In a case that has shocked the community of East Kilbride and beyond, David Wright Kerr, a former teacher and martial arts instructor, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for his involvement in a sexual assault on a nine-year-old boy during a trip to Brittany, France. The incident occurred last summer, and the subsequent investigation led to his arrest by the Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom.

Wright Kerr, aged 40, initially faced charges of rape but later admitted to attempting to rape the young boy. He pleaded guilty to sexual assault charges during an earlier court hearing, acknowledging his misconduct. The case revealed disturbing details about his background, including his role as a pastoral care teacher at the prestigious Cleveden School in Glasgow, where he provided guidance to students, taught computing classes, and managed the school's judo club. His involvement in martial arts was extensive; he held a black belt and served as the head coach at the Stewartfield children’s judo club in East Kilbride.

It was clarified during the proceedings that the child involved did not have any direct connection to the school or its activities. Wright Kerr, who also went by the surname Kerr, admitted during his arrest that he had been attracted to boys since his youth but claimed to have exercised control over his urges. Evidence presented at the Old Bailey in London revealed that he kept paedophile material on his home computer, including 454 photographs and 101 videos, which further underscored the severity of his misconduct.

Following his arrest, Wright Kerr was banned from working with children indefinitely. He expressed remorse in a letter to the court, stating, “For a few moments of madness I have blown my life apart. I have lost my career in teaching and in judo. I have lost my community as I can never return to East Kilbride. This is the first experience I have had in my life of people hating me.”

Defense lawyer Barry Kogan emphasized Wright Kerr’s remorse, saying, “He is deeply ashamed of his behaviour towards this young boy. Through me, he apologises to the boy and his mother for the ordeal he put him through.”

The court heard that Wright Kerr befriended his young victim at a caravan park in Brittany by giving him sweets, which facilitated the abuse. The boy kept his ordeal secret for eight months before confiding in his mother in March of this year. The investigation led to Wright Kerr’s arrest in Scotland by the Metropolitan Police in April.

Judge John Roberts, presiding over the case, remarked during sentencing that the offence was not premeditated but occurred spontaneously. The judge emphasized the gravity of the crime and the impact on the victim, ultimately sentencing Wright Kerr to five and a half years in prison, with a ban from working with children for life. The case has left a lasting scar on the community and highlights the ongoing issues surrounding child protection and the dangers posed by individuals in positions of trust.