Nicky Campbell Describes Teacher Attack in Court
Broadcaster gives evidence at a hearing examining allegations against former Edinburgh Academy teachers.
Broadcaster Nicky Campbell has told a court that a former teacher "completely lost it" and violently attacked him in the courtyard of Edinburgh Academy in the 1970s. The 65-year-old presenter was giving evidence during an examination of facts hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
Campbell, who was a pupil at the fee-paying school between 1966 and 1978, described being grabbed from behind by math teacher Colin Turner as he was running late for class. He said he was then shaken, slapped, and dragged across the playground. "He utterly lost it. It was an absolute frenzy," Campbell told the court.
He testified that after the incident, the teacher appeared "chastened." Campbell recalled telling the teacher he could call the police, and that his mother later informed him Turner had been "dealt with." Campbell also stated that an examination of his school file revealed no record of the incident.
Turner and another former teacher, David Bourne, are accused of attacking pupils at the school. However, both have been deemed medically unfit to stand trial. A sheriff will hear the evidence to determine if there are grounds for a conviction. Campbell is expected to continue giving evidence on Thursday.