Hawick driving instructor ordered to sign sex register

Published 16 Feb 2010 12:54 0 Comments

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A DRIVING instructor who repeatedly patted a teenage girl 43 years his junior on the thigh and leg during a lesson claimed he "misread the signals."

George Borthwick congratulated the 17-year-old on completing a successful manoeuvre by touching her on the leg. Later on in the lesson the 60-year-old also put his hand on her thigh.

But allegations he repeatedly rubbed her breast and also making remarks of a sexually-explicit and inappropriate nature were dropped.

However, Borthwick's name was still placed on the Sex Offender's Register at Jedburgh Sheriff Court after he pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting the teenager in three different streets in Hawick, Roxburghshire, on August 25.

His lawyer Ross Dow argued that while there was a sexual element to the offence it was not a significant one and he should not be registered.

But Sheriff James Farrell said that Borthwick had admitted touching the girl and while the sexual encounter was "fairly minor" he took into account Borthwick's age and the instructor/pupil relationship.

He deferred sentence until March 26 for background reports and ordered Borthwick's name be placed on the Sex Offender's Register on an interim basis.

Mark Keane, prosecuting, described how the girl had been picked up for her driving lesson about 1pm.

He said: "They were in the Stirches area of Hawick and she carried out some manoeuvre. On successfully completing this he placed his right hand on her leg and then patted her leg and thigh.

"She was shocked at what had happened and wanted to get out of the car and walk away. They then drove to the Burnfoot area of Hawick and again he placed his hand on her leg.

"She did not know what to do. She was scared and thought she was going to crash the car."

Mr Keane said later in the lesson Borthwick asked her to pull in front of a car and touched her again. He added that Borthwick told the pupil not to tell anyone what had happened and she replied "yes."

But once she got home the 17-year-old told a friend and also her hockey coach the following day and when her mother heard about it and the police were informed.

Mr Keane said that Borthwick was interviewed three days after and admitted to officers he touched leg "to see how far she would go."

Mr Dow explained that he was giving her a warning on how to deal with men in the future. He continued: "He initially patted her on the leg to congratulate her on successfully completing the move. He realised then that was inappropriate and apologised to her.

"She replied that he didn't not need to worry and he misread the signals and then said if I touched you there would that be okay and proceeded to touch her on the thigh.

"He then realised that conduct was not welcomed and he stopped and apologised."

Mr Dow admitted his client had acted "inappropriately" and "unprofessionally" and had "overstepped the mark but claimed there was not a significant sexual element to the offence.

Borthwick - who runs his own driving school in his home town of Hawick, had been due to stand trial on two charges of assault and making remarks of a sexually-explicit and inappropriate nature.

But just before the trial was due to go-ahead he changed his plea to guilty to a reduced charge of repeatedly patting her on the thigh and leg with his hand in three streets in Hawick.

On leaving the court building Borthwick branded a photographer "scum" as he was pictured. His wife Gail, who had accompanied him during the court hearing, said:"Wait till the next time in court and we will prove him innocent."

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