Helpline set up for children and families after conviction of paedophile teacher

Education chiefs have set up a helpline for pupils and families in the wake of the conviction of paedophile teacher Blair Paton.

The St Machar Academy technical studies teacher appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted downloading more than 1,700 indecent images of children, some as young as five.

Aberdeen City Council’s chief education officer, Eleanor Sheppard, has written to parents of pupils at the secondary school to reassure them that none of the victims in the case are believed to be from the city.

In an email that went out today, Ms Sheppard says: “I am sure you are aware of the court case regarding an ex-member of staff through the media reports.  I appreciate that this news will be very startling and unsettling for you and your young person.

“I appreciate that you will have a number of questions.  I am sadly unable to answer questions at this moment in time as the matter is still subject to live legal proceedings.

“However, I can reassure you that no young people in Aberdeen City are thought to be connected to this case in any way.”

Ms Sheppard said a helpline has also been set up to provide a “safe space” for anyone with questions.

“Some of you will find this news hard to comprehend,” she said. “We all cope quite differently with news of this nature and some of you may find it helpful to speak to someone.

“We have established a Helpline to support you, which can be accessed on 01224 522302.”

Paton – who previously worked at Bucksburn Academy, Mackie Academy and Meldrum Academy – was found to have 1,767 images of girls as young as five and later told police he wasn’t a danger to his pupils.

Concerned parents took to social media to express their concerns about the case and complained they first learned of his guilt on The Press and Journal website yesterday.

One mum branded it a “disgrace” that the school had not communicated with parents and families directly.

“It’s a disgrace though,” she wrote. “Why would the school itself not put out something telling us about this teacher?”

Another mum said: “My son goes to this school I want to make sure he’s still not a teacher.”

Another parent added that Paton had “disappeared after the summer and nobody knew why”.

While another mum agreed that would’ve been preferable “instead of reading it in the newspaper”.

Images downloaded on Kik app

The local authority yesterday confirmed Paton – who featured in BBC One’s 2005 documentary series Teacher Teacher – is not employed at any Aberdeen school.

The 39-year-old’s haul of images was discovered after police received information that he had accessed child abuse pictures on a social media app, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.

The father-of-one downloaded and viewed the images, featuring girls as young as five, between May and July 2020 after installing the Kik messenger to his phone.

When police went to his then-home in Blackdog in July 2021, Paton’s wife answered the door before officers searched his phone and laptop.

A forensic search found 1,767 inaccessible indecent images of children of which 247 were Category A, 786 were Category B and 734 were Category C images.

Fiscal depute Carol Gammie said Paton had joined Kik in the summer of 2020 “to meet and chat to people”.

“He stated that in the moment he had found it exciting,” the fiscal said.

“He admitted to searching for Kik chat groups relating to child abuse in order to view indecent images of children.

“He said he was unsure if he was sexually attracted to children, but thought he must have been at that time.”

‘I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry’

An Aberdeen University graduate, Paton also told police he “does not find the children he teaches attractive and that he is not a danger to children”.

After being cautioned and charged he told officers:  “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry”.

Paton will return to court next month for sentencing.

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