18 hours ago
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Police Scotland
Alexander Cameron often used a belt he called 'Hungry Horace' for several years after it was outlawed in Scotland's schools
A former headmaster has been found guilty of carrying out violent abuse against young pupils at a residential school in Fife.
Alexander Cameron, 88, assaulted six primary school-aged boys at Ovenstone School in Pittenweem between 7 March 1982 and 30 June 1992.
He often used a belt he called "Hungry Horace" for several years after it was outlawed in Scotland's schools.
Cameron, from St Andrews, was found guilty of six charges relating to six pupils and he was granted bail pending social work reports at Dundee Sheriff Court.
Cameron, who denied the charges, admitted regularly hitting pupils with a gym shoe, described as "a slipper" in a school log book.
Cameron said: "I take issue with the word violence.
"In the first two years I had used a token form of corporal punishment, with an option for something other than corporal punishment."
Two of the victims described to jurors how Cameron, who earned a boxing award at university, handed them boxing gloves and forced them to fight to settle disputes.
One former pupil wept as he gave evidence about Cameron hitting him with a belt as punishment for bad behaviour.
Cameron said: "The school was a last resort for children from mainstream education who had been excluded from one or more mainstream schools.
"The purpose was to try and ameliorate the trouble they presented and return them to mainstream schools."
He said the previous head teacher and staff "certainly" practiced corporal punishment and he had been advised to maintain the "status quo" when he took over.
Asked if he was the only person allowed to hit the children, he replied: "Correct, because I was aware staff had been employing punishment excessively.
"I would give them either one, according to the severity of the offence, or two smacks on a clothed behind, with a witness. I would ask the secretary to enter it in the log book.
"I would strike them on the bottom. I used moderate force. I never injured a child. I never left a child with bruising. I considered it to be very reasonable.
"Token force. I never hit the boys as hard as I could have done. I gave them one slap each with a Slazenger gym shoe.
"A Slazenger gym shoe - I went running at lunchtimes - I took it and I gave them one or two; not with any enthusiasm, I was against that kind of thing."
Cameron was cleared of five other charges including endangering the life of a pupil by driving a car at him, and throwing another against a bed.
Solicitor Frank Moore, defending Cameron, said: "It is somewhat sad and rather tragic that he finds himself, at the age of 88, in your Lordship's court."
