A FORMER music teacher at an East Renfrewshire school who is accused of a 15-year campaign of sex abuse towards pupils has been given a trial date.

William Wright, 79, allegedly began preying on his victims 40 years ago, abusing children in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

The grandad-of-eight made his first public court appearance in connection with the allegations at Paisley Sheriff Court last month.

He faces six charges covering his alleged conduct between 1977 and 1992 at Eastwood High School, in Newton Mearns.

Prosecutors claim that, between 1977 and 1979, he repeatedly used lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards a pupil, who can’t be named for legal reasons, when she was 14 and 15.

He denies getting her to enter a cupboard with him, tickling her, grabbing her bra and pulling it, in breach of Section 5 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 1976.

Wright faces a second charge of indecently assaulting her in the same way on a number of occasions between 1979 and 1980, when she was 16 and 17.

The third charge states he used lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards an 11-year-old girl on a number of occasions between 1985 and 1986.

It is claimed he grabbed and pulled her bra, made lewd and indecent comments to her, followed her into a cupboard, closed the door and put the lights off, pressed himself against her and poked her on the ribs, body and breasts. 

Wright, of Elderslie, is also said to have pressed himself against her, squeezed her breasts, put his fingers inside her bra, licked her face, pulled her pants down, touched her private parts and committed a sex act in front of her.

He is further said to have repeatedly abused the girl in the same way when she was aged between 14 and 16 and, on one occasion, made her perform a sex act on him.

Between 1985 and 1988, Wright is said to have repeatedly used lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards his third alleged victim by touching her on the body and pulling her bra and, on one occasion, trying to kiss her on the mouth.

The final charge states that Wright indecently assaulted his second alleged victim by performing sex acts on himself in front of her, making her touch him and also touching her private parts.

At last month’s hearing, Wright’s lawyer said further investigations needed to be made into his defence, with another court hearing set for earlier this month.

At that hearing, a trial date was assigned for next month.

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