Former teacher Peter McGuinness who sexually abused boy jailed for three years

A retired teacher who sexually groomed a boy has been jailed for three years.

Peter McGuinness, 59, also known as Peter McGinniss, inappropriately touched the boy from the age of 14 between 1992 and 1995.

McGuinness initially befriended the boy’s family and gained their trust before he took his future victim on days out to bowling and swimming.

It was not until the boy’s father died that McGuinness became sexually abusive towards him during sleepovers at his home in Rutherglen.

The victim – now aged 45 – told a jury that McGuinness would supply him with alcohol and attacked him on a single bed while he was asleep.

Then driving instructor McGuinness went on to become an English teacher and was later found guilty of grooming a 13-year-old boy between 2009 and 2010.

McGuinness also befriended that victim’s family after meeting him at the school where he taught.

He took the boy on trips during the school holidays as well as overnight stays to a hotel, a log cabin visit and gave him gifts.

The teenager said that he would go to McGuinness’ home where he would drink alcohol.

He also went away overnight with him on two occasions and shared a room with the teacher.

McGuinness was jailed for two years in 2013 and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years which had recently expired.

McGuinness was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court of his latest indecent assault charge.

McGuinness was put on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.

The victim earlier told the court that he and his family met McGuinness through his older brother around 1989.

The man stated McGuinness came by their house more frequently as time went on.

The man said then 28-year-old McGuinness was like an older brother and took him to play pool, bowling and swimming.

The man also claimed that McGuinness would give him alcohol and buy takeaways.

He further recalled a trip with his friends to Craig Tara caravan park where they stayed over.

The man said: “These things cost money and I didn’t get to do them very often – it was good at the time.

“This guy, I looked up to him, I thought the world of him, he was really nice to me. He had everyone fooled – my parents thought he was a nice man.”

The man stated that his dad became unhappy with their interactions so that they continued to meet in secret.

His father unfortunately passed away when he was 14-years-old which then coincided with McGuinness being physically abusive.

He recalled staying overnight with McGuinness who lived with his mother and brother at the time.

The man claimed that the pair shared a single bed during their sleepovers.

He said: “Peter would start getting touchy feely. I would go to my bed drunk and I would feel him trying to cuddle me or put his leg over the top of me.

“He would try and feel my genitals with his hand and I would press myself against the wall or lie on my stomach.”

The man added that he “froze”, was “scared to move” and that if he acknowledged it, it “became real.”

The witness stated that he was also manipulated by McGuinness who told him not to listen to his mother and to make his own decisions.

The man claimed McGuinness would wake up in the morning and act like nothing had happened.

He stated that this put him in a state of denial if the abuse actually happened.

The man revealed what happened to him to a former partner in 2004 and then another woman who became his wife in 2020.

Mr Watson asked the man how the abuse made him feel and he replied: “I was in a dark place, I didn’t see a future for myself – I was in such a dark place.

“I didn’t have a life, I didn’t have an existence. I was isolated to the point I didn’t have anyone to talk to or turn to.”

Sandy Orgill, defending, told the sentencing that his client continues to profess his innocence.