Deputy head teacher caught with "disturbing" collection of photographs of pupils wins appeal against court conviction

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A deputy head teacher caught with a "disturbing" collection of photographs of pupils has won an appeal against a court conviction.Police officers found nearly 2500 images of primary school children - many topless - on devices belonging to Alan Burns.The well-liked and respected teacher admitted he enjoyed watching youngsters perform the 'fireman's lift', a wrestling technique where a person is placed over the shoulder of the carrier.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android The 59-year-old was found guilty in March of committing a breach of the peace by taking and keeping photos of pupils for his sexual gratification.

Burns was also convicted of an offence under the Data Protection Act following his trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court. He avoided a jail sentence but was placed on the sex offenders' register for three years.He was also given a three-year supervision order, told to do 160 hours of unpaid work and banned from unsupervised contact with children under 16 years.But on Friday, the Sheriff Appeal Court quashed his conviction after ruling he was unfairly treated by police officers.

Burns took the photos between 2013 and 2021 while teaching at a school in South Lanarkshire, but he claimed they were for "entirely innocent purposes".