A “predatory” teacher who asked a pupil to send him explicit pictures of herself has been jailed for two years.
Jonathan Wylie’s crimes were branded “despicable” by a sheriff, who also said he had betrayed the trust of parents and the local authority.
The 33-year-old former senior PE teacher – who now lives in the Highlands – was sacked by Moray Council after being found guilty of three offences involving the same teenage girl.
A jury convicted him of asking the youngster to send him an indecent image of herself and indicating that he wanted her to perform sexual acts.
He was also found guilty of intentionally sending written sexual communications to the same Elgin Academy 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.
Wylie’s counsel. advocate Bill Adam, told Elgin Sheriff Court yesterday that despite the jury’s verdicts at the end of his three-day trial Wylie continued to protest his innocence.
He was suspended from his job as acting head of PE at Elgin Academy in 2013 after the allegations against him were made and remained on paid leave while an investigation was being carried out.
The court heard yesterday that he had been dismissed from his position after being found guilty and a Moray Council spokesman said the local authority had “robust” child protection procedures in place to deal with such cases.
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov jailed Wylie for two years, and said he would also spend a further 24 months under licence after his release.
His name will remain on the sex offenders register for 10 years.
Sheriff Pasportnikov said Wylie had committed “despicable offences” which amounted to “planned and predatory behaviour”.
She said: “People send their children to school and quite rightly expect them to be in a protective environment.
“You have betrayed that trust.”
She added that Wylie had “exploited” his victim, adding that his crimes were of a “sexual nature”.
The sheriff said Wylie had shown “no remorse”, and that his behaviour only stopped “because you were found out”.
Mr Adam had earlier pleaded with the sheriff to spare Wylie a prison sentence and said his client was a first offender who had previously been of “good character”.
He urged the sheriff to show mercy “regardless of how appalled one is of the offending behaviour”.
Mr Adam also said that Wylie had suffered anxiety as a result of concern for his family following the criminal proceedings.
Sheriff Pasportnikov said she had considered a number of character references submitted by members of Wylie’s family but found that the “devastating” effects had been brought about by his own actions.
During his trial it emerged that a police investigation into his internet activity revealed online searches for girls as young as 12.
A forensic analyst told the court he had visited sites with titles such as “best jailbait albums ever”.
Wylie is originally from Elgin, but now lives at 4 Grant Crescent, Maryburgh, in Ross-shire.
He had worked at Elgin Academy for three years and was made acting principal teacher of PE at the school in March 2013.
A spokesman for Moray Council said: “We have robust child protection procedures in place across the council, and Elgin Academy staff acted swiftly to implement these once a pupil came forward with concerns.
“These procedures are there to provide pupils with the confidence to come forward, as the speed with which this was dealt with demonstrates.
“Wylie was immediately suspended from his post once the allegations were made and dismissed when he was found guilty by the court.”
