Former teacher, freed from jail after rape retrial, applies to go back to work

A FORMER teacher whose rape charge was found not proven after he had spent five years in jail has applied to teach in Scotland again. James Boyle, 56, was convicted in 2005 of rape and sexual abuse dating back to the 1970s, and was imprisoned for 12 years.

But an appeal court ordered a retrial on the grounds of the alleged failings of the senior counsel who conducted his first trial.

A fresh trial found all five charges against Mr Boyle relating to victims aged seven, eight and 13 not proven. The General Teacher Council for Scotland will now consider whether he can rejoin the teaching register.

A spokeswoman said: “GTCS will now consider how to take forward fitness-to-teach proceedings appropriately in this particular case.

“In the meantime, Mr Boyle remains an applicant to the GTCS register.”