A top Scots private school teacher who had a sexual relationship with a pupil has had her prison term cut after a judge ruled it was ‘excessive’. Nicola Park will now serve 16 months behind bars, rather than the original 27-month sentence handed to her at Glasgow Sheriff Court in April.
The “well-respected” 43-year-old admitted engaging in sexual activity with a female student between December 2016 and April 2019. The victim was aged between 15 and 18 during the sordid affair, which saw the duo meeting up for secret trysts at various locations including at Park’s home.
Park’s legal team launched an appeal against her sentence, arguing that she should not have received a jail term, due to her previously unblemished record. But Lord Hugh Matthews ruled that a case of this nature would inevitably attract a custodial sentence unless there were exceptional circumstances.
Despite finding that the shamed teacher had engaged in a “high level of grooming” while in a heightened position of trust, he determined the jail term was excessive.
He said: “At the time of the offence the appellant was a mature woman and a very experienced teacher. The complainer had sought her assistance in her pastoral role so the position of trust was clear and indeed enhanced.
“Thereafter there was a significant degree of planning and a high level of grooming resulting in an improper intimate relationship, which lasted for a considerable time. The appellant engineered situations where she was alone with the complainer in her car, her home, and elsewhere.
“She knew it was wrong and could have taken steps to end the relationship at any time but chose not to. While the appellant has expressed remorse, we note that in speaking to the author of the Criminal Justice Social Work Report, she attributed a large measure of responsibility for what happened to the complainer, which is a subversion of the true position.
“That having been said, there is force in the submission that the sentence was excessive. Having regard to all the circumstances… we consider that the appropriate headline sentence would have been one of imprisonment for 21 months.
"We shall accordingly allow the appeal to the extent of quashing the sentence of imprisonment of 27 months and imposing in its place a sentence of imprisonment of 16 months, reduced from 21 months on account of the timing of the plea.”
Park, of Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, was also put on the sex offenders register for 10 years. Her details were also passed to the authorities stating that she is "unsuitable to work with children."
A court previously heard how Park struck up a relationship with the girl after she became upset in class and said she felt alone. They went on to exchange regular emails with Park sending kisses, exchanging heart and kissing emojis and stating that they loved each other.
They then began meeting up regularly in person where they engaged in sexual activity. The relationship ended when the pupil moved to start university. After suffering from stress, the victim told her GP what had been happening with Park sparking a police investigation.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
