Pupil blacked out after teacher assault, hearing told

A schoolboy was hit so hard by an Edinburgh teacher that he blacked out, a hearing has been told.

John Brownlee, 89, has been deemed unfit to stand trial for allegedly mistreating pupils over a 20-year period between 1967 and 1987.

Former Edinburgh Academy pupils told an examination of facts hearing they were struck on the head and hit with a clacken by Mr Brownlee.

The hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, which covers 36 charges, is being held before a sheriff with no jury.

The charges include physical assaults and cruel and unnatural treatment of the children.

An examination of facts hearing can only be held if it is determined the accused is unfit to stand trial.

The Crown and the defence will have respective opportunities to lead the evidence, but the defence is obligated to test the Crown’s case.

One former pupil, who was 10 at the time, described how Mr Brownlee “smashed him over the head” with one hand and punched him on the stomach with the other.

He said he fell and blacked out, before having problems breathing when he woke up.

The ex-pupil believed the alleged assault was "revenge" due to the pupil's father having complained to the school about another teacher, who was a friend of Mr Brownlee.

Under cross examination the witness agreed he did not mention the attack by Mr Brownlee in a statement to the police he gave in 2019.

But he insisted it was something he recalled happening to himself.

Clacken allegations

Another former pupil told of an alleged incident in 1978, when he was 11.

He stated that as punishment for fighting with another boy he was told to take down his trousers and pants and to bend over.

The witness stated that he was hit three times with a wooden paddle called a clacken, which left him with bruising on his buttocks due to the force used.

The stick, which can be up to18in (46cm) in length, is used in the ball game of the same name played at the school for almost 200 years.

The former pupil said he never told his family about what the teacher did to him as he was too scared, and instead told his mother that the bruises were the result of playing rugby.

The youngest children whose ages are given on the charge sheet were seven at the time of the alleged incidents.

The hearing continues.