A predatory PE teacher has been found guilty of asking a pupil at a Moray school to send him explicit photographs of herself.
Jonathan Wylie held his head in his hands yesterday as a jury at Elgin Sheriff Court convicted him of three charges involving the same teenager.
The 33-year-old had been suspended from his post at Elgin Academy since a series of allegations were made against him in 2013.
Wylie was arrested after sending a string of Facebook messages to the girl between September-November 2013.
He was convicted of engaging in sexual activity with, or directed towards, a teenage pupil.
He asked the girl to send him an indecent image of herself, and indicated that he wanted her to perform sexual acts.
The jury also found him guilty of intentionally sending written sexual communications to the same pupil, asking her to supply explicit photographs.
He was convicted of a third charge of taking, or permitting the taking of, indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs, of a child.
During his trial at Elgin Sheriff Court it emerged that a police investigation into Wylie’s internet activity revealed online searches for girls aged as young as 12.
A forensic analyst told the court he had visited sites with titles such as “best jailbait albums ever”.
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov placed Wylie on the sex offenders register and allowed him bail pending sentence.
But she ordered him not approach any girl aged under unless he was accompanied by another person aged over 21.
She also ruled the bail conditions would not prevent Wylie from contacting his young daughter.
he is due to return to court for sentence on December 3.
His counsel, advocate Bill Adam, pleaded with the sheriff to spare his client jail.
The lawyer said: “My client is a first offender and has previously been of good behaviour.
“He is a married man and a family man, with two young children.
“A custodial sentence must be a consideration but given his previous good character and background circumstances, it’s not the only consideration for the court.”
Sheriff Pasportnikov thanked members of the jury for their “time, trouble and consideration” during the trial.
Wylie is originally from the Elgin area, but now lives at 4 Grant Crescent, Maryburgh, in Ross-shire.
He had worked at Elgin Academy for three years, and has been on suspended pay from Moray Council for nearly two years.
He was made acting principal teacher of PE at the school in March 2013.
