Learning assistant sexually abused special needs pupil

A SCHOOL worker who took a special needs pupil to his home and sexually assaulted him has been jailed for four years.

Andrew Bradshaw, 54, was a learning assistant at a school in Edinburgh where the youth, 15, received help because of his poor intellectual development.

During the summer holidays, Bradshaw collected the teenager to take him to visit a friend. However, they went to his home in Morrison Avenue, Tranent, East Lothian, and Bradshaw showed him a sex education video before abusing him.

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The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Bradshaw was “racked with guilt” and had taken an overdose before a previous scheduled court hearing. Lord Pentland told Bradshaw, a first offender, he had committed an extremely serious offence which involved a gross breach of trust.

“The sentence must reflect society’s abhorrence at the sexual abuse of children, particularly vulnerable children, and must serve to punish you and to deter others who might be tempted to take advantage of positions of trust and responsibility to abuse children,” he said.

He added that the prison term would have been six years but he was obliged to reduce it because Bradshaw had pleaded guilty.

Bradshaw admitted a charge under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009, committed at his home on 29 July.

The court heard that he was single and lived alone, and had been employed as a learning assistant for 15 years.

The advocate-depute, Alison Di Rollo, said the youth had learning difficulties and was described as extremely vulnerable and easily led.

Ms Di Rollo said an arrangement had been made for Bradshaw to take him to see a girlfriend, but when he arrived at the youth’s home, he suggested they go for a walk instead. The youth’s mother insisted that they should stick to the original plan.

“On leaving, however, he took the youth to a bus stop, where they both got on to a bus and travelled to Dalkeith. From there, they walked together to Tranent, to the home address of the accused,” said Ms Di Rollo.

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“The accused prepared him lunch before making him view a recording of a Channel 4 sex education programme. While watching this, the accused pulled down his own trousers and pants. The youth was shocked and didn’t know what to say or do.”

Bradshaw partially stripped the terrified youth, and abused him. He made clear to the youth that he should not tell his mother what had happened, and initially the youth remained silent. However, he revealed the incident the next day and the police were called.

The defence solicitor advocate, David Allan, said Bradshaw had been hospitalised in October after taking an overdose of aspirin “because he is racked with guilt”. He appreciated it was a very serious offence and understood a custodial sentence was inevitable. He was keen to take any opportunity in prison to address his offending.