JAMES DARLING SCANDAL SHOCKS EDINBURGH AND MORAY: TEACHER INVOLVED IN CHILD ABUSE IN THAILAND NOW IN CHINA

In a disturbing revelation, James Fraser Darling, a man with a troubling past linked to child abuse allegations, is reportedly working as an educator in China, despite his criminal history in Thailand. Darling, aged 56, originally from Edinburgh, has a history that dates back to the late 1990s when he was convicted of abusing young boys in Thailand. His conviction in 1998 led to a 33-year prison sentence, a punishment that was later reduced after he appealed his case.

Darling’s family background is notable; he is the son of Sir Frank Fraser Darling, a renowned Scottish ornithologist and naturalist. After his conviction, Darling was released from prison in 2001 following his appeal, which his legal team claimed resulted in an acquittal. Subsequently, he returned to the United Kingdom and settled in Forres, a town near his family’s estate on the outskirts of Moray, where his father and stepmother had previously owned property.

During an interview with the Press and Journal at the time, Darling vehemently denied any guilt related to indecency offences. He insisted that he was a “quiet, clean-living and kind individual” and claimed that his interactions with boys in Thailand were innocent, stating, “My only crime was to befriend a large number of boys in Thailand and try to make their dreadful lives a bit more pleasant.” Despite his claims, evidence from the Thai court painted a different picture.

It is now believed that Darling has found employment in China, specifically in Zhuhai, where he is reportedly teaching English to children from affluent families at a private language school. This development raises serious concerns given his past, especially considering that he returned to the UK before the implementation of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. This legislation empowered police to impose notification orders on convicted sex offenders returning from abroad, requiring them to register and inform authorities of their whereabouts. However, since Darling’s return predates this law, no such restrictions or monitoring measures are believed to have been applied to him.

In recent weeks, authorities have used their powers under the current legal framework to enforce travel restrictions on other offenders, such as the case of disgraced pop star Gary Glitter, who was compelled to sign the sex offenders register upon his return to the UK. The situation with Darling remains under scrutiny, especially as reports suggest he is now working in China, potentially without oversight.

Looking back at his conviction in May 1998, Darling was sentenced to 33 years in a Thai prison after pleading guilty to multiple sexual assaults on boys. The court heard how Darling, then a teacher living near a beach in Thailand, befriended local gypsy boys, often buying them gifts such as bicycles, clothing, and food. He would take the boys, none over the age of 15, on boat trips to nearby islands, where he engaged in abuse and took photographs of the victims.

Local child protection agencies in Thailand became aware of his activities and began collecting evidence, including a book found at his residence that detailed orgies involving young boys. Darling has since claimed that he was the victim of a witch-hunt, but the court’s findings and evidence led to his conviction. Although he was initially sentenced to over 40 years, his sentence was reduced to 33 years after he admitted guilt. A BBC correspondent has noted that Darling is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison, given the severity of his crimes and the evidence against him.