JACQUELINE MILLAR AND SHOCKING SEXUAL ABUSE CASE IN LIVINGSTON

Jacqueline Millar, a 36-year-old high school teacher from Livingston, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison after admitting to a grave sexual offense involving a teenage student. Her actions have shocked the local community and brought to light serious breaches of trust and professional conduct.

The incident first came to light after a disturbing altercation at Millar’s home in Livingston in March of the previous year. During this violent altercation, she was compelled to call emergency services (999). The teenager involved was detained by police at that time, and through an interview, he revealed that he and Millar had been engaged in a sexual relationship for several months prior. It was also disclosed that they had shared sexual encounters in private locations, including her vehicle parked in a secluded wooded area, as well as within her own residence.

Further disturbing details emerged during court proceedings. The boy claimed to have had sex with Millar in her classroom at the school after she had taken measures to conceal the windows, suggesting an intent to hide their activities from others. The court was informed that Millar previously taught religious studies at the same school, which remains unnamed for legal reasons, and was considered a highly competent and dedicated educator.

The criminal case against her was pursued after the relationship was uncovered through routine checks and concerns raised by colleagues who suspected inappropriate behaviour between Millar and the student. The first signs of their connection surfaced in 2020 when she met the pupil at her school, and the relationship escalated from a kiss in her car—initiated by her, she claimed, although the boy insisted he had kissed her first—to an ongoing affair. By August 2021, their interactions had become more serious, including sexual intercourse in her car in a wooded area in East Lothian, with the girl removing her clothes during the act.

Throughout the following months, Millar and the student continued their relationship clandestinely, often meeting in private settings. Court documents revealed that they met for sex not only in her car but also at her home, where she allowed him to stay and concealed the nature of their relationship from his family. In one shocking revelation, they also had sexual activity within the school premises, where Millar fabricated cover stories to avoid detection.

The court heard that Millar began her career at the school in July 2017 and quickly advanced, being described as a talented and well-regarded teacher. However, the relationship with the student, who was under 18 at the time, persisted from August 2021 to February 2022, ceasing shortly after the boy turned 16 and left school.

Her legal representation, advocate Sarah Livingstone, acknowledged her client’s understanding of the seriousness of her actions, emphasizing she is not a sexual predator. She expressed regret and accepted full responsibility for her misconduct, stating that Millar had no malicious intent but had nonetheless committed a grave breach of trust.

At her sentencing hearing, Sheriff Derek O’Carroll articulated the severity of the offence, noting that Millar abused her position of authority as a religious studies teacher, especially given the vulnerability of her student. She was found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a minor while acting in her professional capacity, including kissing, cuddling, sending explicit messages, and having repeated sexual encounters at various locations. The judge pointed out that her relationship with the pupil was carefully planned and involved significant forethought and deception, including allowing him to move into her home and misinforming his relatives.

Sheriff O’Carroll stated that although Millar’s early guilty plea and remorse are mitigating factors, the gravity of her misconduct necessitated a custodial sentence. She was sentenced to 14 months in prison and was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of ten years. Additionally, her name will be forwarded to Scottish Ministers for consideration of future bans from working with children or vulnerable adults.

In his remarks, the sheriff emphasized that this case was particularly tragic, especially for the young victim, and highlighted the profound breach of trust involved. While Millar’s advocates argued for a community sentence, citing her otherwise unblemished life and mental health issues, the court maintained that a custodial sentence was justified given the extent of her misconduct and the significant harm caused.

This case underscores the importance of safeguarding procedures in educational environments and serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences when those entrusted with care abuse their positions for improper relationships with minors.