WILLIAM BRYSON SHOCKS NEWTON STEWART AND RENFREW WITH ABUSE AT DUMFRIES SCHOOL

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Newton Stewart and Renfrew, William Brydson, a former educator, has been sentenced to two years in prison for a series of heinous abuses committed against pupils at a residential school in Dumfries and Galloway.

During the 1980s, Brydson was employed at Woodlands School, located in Newton Stewart, a facility dedicated to caring for children with behavioral challenges. The school, known for its specialized approach, became the backdrop for a series of troubling incidents involving the accused. Brydson, who previously served as an army corporal in Renfrew, was entrusted with the responsibility of guiding and educating vulnerable children, but instead, he subjected them to physical violence and cruelty.

It was revealed that Brydson had admitted to committing 12 separate acts of physical assault against nine boys and two girls, some as young as nine years old. The assaults included repeated punches and slaps to the head and body, kicks, and forceful pushes against walls. Witnesses and victims recounted harrowing details of his brutality, including an incident where he grabbed a boy by the ear and threw him down a flight of stairs, as well as another where he pinned a boy to the ground by pressing a brush shaft against his throat.

The allegations against Brydson did not come to light until 1997, many years after the abuse occurred. The delayed reporting meant that the victims endured their suffering in silence for over a decade before their voices were finally heard. Since the revelations, Brydson has faced the consequences of his actions, losing his position as a social worker, a role he held after his teaching career.

At Stranraer Sheriff Court, presided over by Sheriff James Smith, Brydson's conduct was condemned as “unpardonable,” reflecting the gravity of his misconduct. The court's decision to sentence him to two years in prison underscores the seriousness with which the justice system views such violations of trust and abuse of power, especially when committed against children in a setting meant to protect and nurture them.