Jacqueline Millar

A West Lothian high school teacher has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for maintaining an illicit sexual relationship with one of her teenage pupils. Jacqueline Millar, aged 36, who previously taught religious studies, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a person under 18 while in her position as a teacher. The relationship, which lasted six months, involved kissing, cuddling, sexual remarks, explicit messages, and repeated sexual intercourse at various locations.

The case came to light in March 2022 following an altercation at Millar's home in Livingston, prompting her to call emergency services. The teenage boy was taken into custody and, during police interview, revealed the ongoing sexual relationship. Prosecutor Susan Dickson detailed how Millar first met the pupil in 2020, with concerns raised by colleagues about the inappropriate nature of their interactions. The first physical contact occurred in August 2021 when Millar picked up the boy from a football training session and they kissed in her car. Two weeks later, they drove to a secluded wooded area in East Lothian, where sexual intercourse took place in her vehicle while the boy was below the age of consent.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard that the pair continued their relationship, meeting regularly for sex at Millar's home. The boy also claimed they had intercourse in a school classroom after Millar covered the windows with paper to prevent detection. Millar, described in court as a 'high-flyer' and dedicated professional who joined the school in July 2017, was sentenced on 18 July 2023 by Sheriff Derek O’Carroll. The sheriff condemned her actions as 'an abuse of your position' and noted 'a considerable degree of planning', stating there was no alternative to a custodial sentence due to the offence's gravity.

• Millar was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
• Her name will be forwarded to Scottish Ministers for inclusion on the list barring her from working with children and vulnerable adults.
• Advocate Sarah Livingstone, defending, argued Millar was 'not a sexual predator' but accepted full responsibility for the 'very serious offence'.

The school involved cannot be identified for legal reasons. This case highlights the severe consequences of abusing a position of trust in education, as reported by Edinburgh Live on 19 July 2023.