A teacher who molested two schoolboys in two different North Lanarkshire schools in a campaign of twisted sexual abuse has been sentenced to three years in jail.
A police investigation was launched when it was discovered Carol Ann White, 39, of Uddingston, had been texting a 12-year-old boy during the first Covid lockdown.
Phones belonging to the pair were analysed and a total of 1185 messages had been exchanged over a three-week period.
White asked him to touch himself intimately on FaceTime, sent revealing photos of herself and sent one photo captioned "C***block of the year goes to Covid-19".
In later interviews with police, the boy, who has special educational needs, revealed he had been kissed 50 times by her on the lips during a school trip to an outdoor activity centre near Oban, Argyll.
He also said White had groped him while watching the film Titanic and had also forced his hand down the front of her trousers.
The probe led police to an 11-year-old boy who said White had kissed him on the lips in a school storeroom.
In a series of interviews with officers, the boy revealed White had held his head against her groin and rubbed him with her breasts.
White had denied two charges of engaging in sexual activity with the boys spanning between August 2018 and May 2020.
But jurors took just over an hour to find her guilty following a seven-day trial at Airdrie Sheriff Court.
The mum-of-two wept as she was jailed by Sheriff Morag Shankland and placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.
White will also be on licence for 18 months following her release from prison after the sheriff ruled she posed a risk to the public.
Following the sentencing hearing, the mother of the 11-year-old boy said: "I'm just glad she got jailed.
"Concerns had been raised in the school about her being overly familiar with pupils but yet she was allowed to move on and target a vulnerable boy.
"The whole thing is shocking and I feel as if I've had no support for the last two years."
First offender White, who still denies any sexual activity took place, had earlier pled guilty to possessing eight indecent images of the 12-year-old boy.
A text sent by White to the boy after one image was sent read: "You clearly don't need me to help, someone else must have made you horny."
In a video shown to jurors, the 12-year-old boy said: "Miss White said if you touch me I will touch you and then grabbed my hand and put it down her trousers. It happened once."
The 11-year-old boy told how he had been targeted after a discussion about White and her love for Celtic FC.
He said: "She was manipulative. I thought she was a good person who would do nothing wrong but you can't judge a book by its cover.
"We were talking about football because she is a big Celtic fan and the kiss just happened.
"For the last year I've felt like I had to protect her because I thought she was this nice person but she really wasn't.
"If you were Miss White's teacher's pet then she would favour you. It felt quite good. Looking back I feel disgusted."
In evidence, White, branded the 'master of deceit' by prosecutors, broke down as she repeatedly denied the allegations against her.
She said: "My reaction is that they are absolutely not true, not any of it."
Graham Robertson, defence advocate, said: "Even as of today's date, Mrs White is consistent with her position and she has always denied the overtly sexual nature of the charges.
"There has been a massive breach of trust and she knows that.
"What she has been convicted of is reprehensible and she understands the position that she is in and she has had to leave the profession she loved."
Sheriff Shankland told White: "There is no sentence this court can impose which can in any way alleviate the harm you have caused to the children involved and the court wishes to commend the bravery of those children and their parents for the way they gave evidence.
"You have been convicted of a serious breach of trust and you have shown absolutely no remorse for these actions.
"The only appropriate sentence is one of imprisonment."
Responding to White's sentencing, Detective Inspector David Lamont said: "Carole Ann White is now facing the consequences of her predatory behaviour.
"She was a teacher, and in a position of trust, at the time she carried out these offences.
"Her victims showed tremendous courage in making sure she was held accountable for her appalling actions.
"I hope this sentence provides a sense of closure for her victims and sends a clear message that all reports of sexual abuse will be thoroughly investigated by Police Scotland.
"Together with partner agencies, we are committed to supporting victims of sexual crime.
"There is no place for sexual abuse, of any kind, and anyone with concerns should always contact police."
* Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
