Scots teacher who had car sex with underage pupil struck off

Siobhan McLean, 34, had sex with the 15-year-old pupil in her car in September 2022.

A teacher who dodged jail after having sex with a 15-year-old pupil in her car has been struck off.

Siobhan McLean, 34, met the boy in her role as head of pupil support at a secondary school in South Lanarkshire. She had been helping his relative apply for university courses as well as taking study classes which the boy attended.

McLean later contacted him on social media and they began exchanging messages before they had sex in a flat following a night out. They had sex for a second time in her BMW motor in a car park at Craignethan Castle near Blackwood, Lanarkshire, in September 2022.

McLean, of Airdrie, Lanarkshire, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted engaging in sexual activity and was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and put under supervision for three years last October. She has now had her registration to teach removed by education watchdog the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).

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A 'removal' order has been marked against her registration on the official GTCS website which means she has been banned from the classroom and will not be able to teach again unless she proves she is fit to do so. McLean had been dismissed from her teaching role by South Lanarkshire Council after her inappropriate relationship with the boy came to light.

The shamed former RE teacher was tagged for 12 months and banned from having unsupervised contact with children other than her own. She is on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and her name was added to the list of those unsuitable to work with children.

The mum-of-one is also banned from contacting the victim or his family member for five years.

Sheriff Liam Murphy told her: "You pled guilty to a serious offence involving a significant breach of trust. In the criminal justice social work report you were able to recognise the impact of this on the victim and his family. Taking into account all of the circumstances, I'm satisfied that there is an appropriate way to deal with you by way of an alternative to a custodial sentence but this should not detract from the gravity of your conduct."

A hearing in January was told social workers overseeing her case gave her a positive report and said no further court dates would be needed unless she breaches any aspect of the order.

The GTCS website states: "A removal order prohibits a teacher from making a registration application for a specified period - the maximum period is two years. A teacher who has been removed from the register will only be granted registration again where they demonstrate to a fitness to teach panel that they are now fit to teach."

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