Councillor condemns fiscal's decision
1 Aug 05
Education chair unhappy at dropping of charges over teacher's affair with pupil
The chair of Aberdeen City Council's Education Committee has strongly criticised a decision not to prosecute a teacher over his affair with a pupil.
Pam McDonald said she was "very disappointed" with the procurator fiscal's decision not to press charges against 43-year-old John Forrester and added that she saw this as a worrying precedent.
She said: "I don't think it sends out the right message at all and I was very sorry to hear that no action was coming."
Last week Crown Office announced its decision to drop charges, saying that it was "not in public interest" to prosecute.
Mr Forrester was charged in April after he resigned from his post as Head of Music at Kincorth Academy. He now lives with the pupil, Claire Bennett (16) who is expecting his child. The General Teaching Council for Scotland will now review its investigation into his resignation.