Teacher accused of having sex with pupil ‘kept teddy & love notes in school cupboard’

Pupil A previously said that she was first taught by Bryant when she was 16 years old.

She told that they did not have sex until she was 18 and that the intimate meetings took place in the school's biology lab, in a car as well as a hotel.

Pupil A said that they met once or twice a week in discreet spots at Halbeath Park and Ride, near Windygates, Balbirnie Park in Markinch, at secluded garages in her hometown, and in a car park next to East Fife’s Bayview football stadium.

The hook-ups were allegedly organised via text messages using the secret name Delilah, based on the 2006 hit song by Plain White T’s about a long-distance relationship.

She said Bryant bought a prepay phone for himself and gave her the number but the 18-month relationship came to an end in 2019 and Pupil A told a teacher about what had been going on.

Mr Ross told the hearing on Tuesday that as soon as he heard the claims he thought they were "potentially very serious".

He added: "Any allegation of that nature is an abuse of trust and position where somebody has influence over a younger person who is impressionable."

Mr Ross also described Bryant's reaction as calm when he spoke to him about the claims.

He said: "It was as if he was expecting something to happen. He didn’t seem surprised or shocked when we told him what the allegations were.

“I was thinking, ‘my goodness, he’s taking this very calmly’. If it had been me, I think I would have been a wreck.”

Mr Ross added: “He didn’t deny or contradict anything.”

The hearing previously heard that Bryant had keys to a property he was helping renovate and he allegedly sometimes went there with Pupil A too.

Pupil A said that the relationship continued after she left school and started college.

She said that the relationship lasted nearly two years but ended when she asked him to choose between her or his wife, with Bryant allegedly choosing his wife.

She said: “I reported it as it felt unfair. I had nothing and he kept his job and his wife.”

Levenmouth Academy teacher Kerryanne McMahon told the hearing Pupil A, who had left school at this point, messaged her saying she wanted to chat with her.

The ex-pupil told Ms McMahon about the alleged relationship she had with Bryant and showed her evidence and photos of the two of them together at different locations including a park.

Afterward, the chemistry teacher alerted a child protection officer.

She said: “I was called out of class the following day to speak to the police. I was shocked at what she said and kept asking her to recant it but she was so specific.

“To be honest, I didn’t want to believe it.”

After Ms McMahon told Mr Ross, he said: "She said she had clear evidence that some sort of relationship was going on.

"Pupil A showed her some text messages and photos in different locations.

"My feeling was they shouldn’t have been in a park out of school hours at all in that situation.

"That’s putting yourself in a very risky, tricky situation.”

A conduct hearing over Bryant's fitness to teach is expected to last the rest of this week.

If the allegations are proven, Bryant could be banned from teaching again.

Sharon McKenzie, Fife Council's head of HR, said:  "As a responsible employer, we don't discuss the individual circumstances of any current or former employees." 

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