Nicky Campbell Recounts Terrifying School Assault in Court

Broadcaster Nicky Campbell became emotional in Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday as he recounted an alleged physical assault by a former teacher from his school days. Campbell, 65, described the incident, which he believes occurred in 1975 or 1976 when he was 14 or 15 years old, as "utterly terrifying."

Campbell was giving evidence at a hearing into allegations against Colin Turner and David Bourne, retired teachers from Edinburgh Academy, where Campbell was a day pupil. Both men have been assessed as unfit to stand trial and will face no punishment regardless of the hearing's outcome. They were not present in court.

Campbell testified that he and a friend had entered a classroom during altered summer exam timetables, only to find it empty. As he moved towards a noticeboard to check the temporary schedule, he alleged that Turner, a teacher he described as a "large, powerful man, a good athlete," grabbed him by the collar and pulled him backward. "I was pulled to ground and thrown around, rag-dolled basically," Campbell told the court. He recounted being dragged approximately 15 yards to a doorway, experiencing being kicked and slapped, and feeling a closed fist strike his back.

"I felt awful, distraught, frightened, really terrified of what he might do," Campbell said, adding that he had no idea what he had done to provoke the teacher's reaction. He recalled that as the teacher stood over him, his demeanor abruptly changed. "He pushed me down to the ground with his shoe... and I remember looking up at him and his entire demeanour had changed," Campbell stated. He perceived the teacher looking at him and his friend with what appeared to be regret before telling them, "Come with me. We'll talk about this."

Campbell said they were taken to a common room where the teacher eventually told him to go home. The broadcaster stated that he had kept many past beatings and assaults secret from his parents, mindful of their sacrifices in sending him to the prestigious school. However, his mother, a psychiatric social worker, noticed his distress and dishevelment.

"It's the last time I can remember thinking I really need my mum," Campbell shared. He recalled his mother listening to his account and assuring him it would be resolved. He later learned she had contacted the school that evening, and that there were repercussions for the teacher involved.

Campbell, who received an OBE in 2015 for his services to children and adoption, also mentioned finding correspondence between his mother and the school about the incident while clearing her home after her death prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Already grieving, he found the documents too distressing to confront at the time, choosing to "dump it all."

Campbell is scheduled to be cross-examined by defense teams for the accused on Thursday. The hearing continues before Sheriff Matthew Auchincloss.