Physical education teacher Billy May, of Lonemore, Dornoch, is now free to return to work following a disciplinary hearing in Brora on Friday which marked the culmination of a local authority investigation into the case.

Mr May (61) declined to comment in detail this week because of the constraints of his teaching contract. He would only say he was much relieved and delighted at the outcome, adding: “I was overwhelmed with the staggering amount of support given to me by my colleagues, parents and children who sent cards or texted me.”

He also indicated that the case, and the gossip and innuendo it had inevitably sparked in local communities, had had a devastating effect on his physical health and mental wellbeing.

“This experience has completely changed me and my attitude towards everything,” he said. “You go through your life thinking you are doing everything right and all of a sudden the heavens fall in. Everything you have done is being questioned.”

Meanwhile his union representative said the case threw up much wider issues which the union still hoped to pursue.

Highland secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland, Andrew Stewart, who teaches at Alness Academy, said this week: “The EIS cannot comment on individual cases. It is fair to say, however, that this case has thrown up a number of issues that we intend to pursue with the authority. There is a need for a robust protocol that will ensure that proper support is given to teachers at all stages of the disciplinary procedures and that such procedures are expedited with the minimum of delay.”

Local teachers have given much support to Mr May and this week welcomed the result of the hearing.

One, who did not wish to be named, said: “Billy has gone through ten months of hell. As far as I am concerned, it is just a pity that it took so long for him to be cleared. At the end of it all, there but for the grace of God go us all. Nowadays we are all in a vulnerable position because if a child decides to say something then we are guilty until proven innocent, which is the opposite way to the law of the land.

“It is frightening times as far as the teaching profession is concerned because if a child dislikes a teacher — which can happen — and happens to say something, then we have very little back-up.”

Aberdeen-born Mr May, who was brought up in Dornoch, was suspended on 24th January from the post he has held for the past 10 years as a peripatetic primary school teacher covering 10 schools in East Sutherland. He has since been on full pay.

It is understood the allegations against him related to an incident which happened some three years ago. It is also understood that no complaint was ever made by the child in question or her parents.

Criminal proceedings were brought against Mr May but were dropped in July after the procurator fiscal decided there was no case to answer. However the local authority launched its own investigation which ended at last Friday’s hearing.

A very popular teacher, well known for his method of cajoling reluctant pupils through “banter and craic”, Mr May has over the past decade, and mostly in his own leisure time, built up an extensive annual programme of inter-school competitions in Sutherland including orienteering, cross-country and country dancing.

Since his suspension that programme, widely praised as a model for the rest of the Highlands, has largely fallen by the wayside. Indeed some primary schools have been left with very little PE provision.

Highland Council’s head of community learning and leisure, Ian Murray, Inverness, told the NT earlier this week: “It was deemed inappropriate for internal investigations to commence whilst legal proceedings were on-going. Once an outcome to the legal process was known, standard Highland Council procedures were followed and an internal investigation was carried out. It is unfortunate that the combination of these processes has taken longer than anyone would wish. However, it is important and in the interest of all parties, that such matters are investigated fully and properly concluded.”

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