A former private school teacher physically assaulted and emotionally abused Nicky Campbell when he was a child as young as eight, a police chief has ruled.
The Crown Office said John Brownlee, 89, was “abusive” to students he looked after at Edinburgh College between 1967 and 1991.
BBC presenter Campbell, who was a pupil at the fee-paying school from 1966 to 1978, had previously described Brownlee as a “sadistic man” and told the court how he was violently beaten by a teacher in the corridor.
Edinburgh College.Image: Makumba
Brownlee slapped, punched and kicked the children, causing some to fall unconscious.
He also attacked students with items including a cricket bat, a snooker cue, a belt and a wooden racket.
His victims ranged in age from 8 to 11 years old.
Brownlee was found to be medically unfit to stand trial and the case was heard before the magistrates.
After reviewing the facts Edinburgh The Magistrates Court, which included evidence from 42 former pupils, found Brownlee guilty of 31 counts of assault and assault causing harm.
He was also found guilty of one charge of cruel and unnatural treatment.
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Mr Campbell, 62, posted on X after the magistrates’ ruling on Wednesday: “We did it.”
However, Brownlee will not face any punishment for what the Crown Office described as “the habitual use of physical force and mental fear”.
Katrina Parkes, prosecutor for historical child abuse cases at the Crown Office and Crown Prosecution Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “Victims wait their whole lives for the impact of the abuse to be acknowledged and put in their own words , how childhood abuse follows them throughout adulthood.
“John Brownlee was found guilty of extremely cruel conduct in terrorizing those he was entrusted with his care while working as a teacher.
“The conduct committed by the defendant is now a matter of public record.”
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Ms Parks added: “Scottish society has no place in the intimidation and use of force against children and the protection of perpetrators.
“COPFS remains committed to investigating and pursuing those guilty to seek conclusion.”
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