In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Ryan Fisher, then 29, of Troon, South Ayrshire, was found guilty of having sex with a 14-year-old pupil while in a position of trust. On Monday, 3 June 2019, the defendant appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court following a trial. It was reported that Fisher, a computer science teacher at Prestwick Academy, targeted a vulnerable girl he was supposed to be helping with her studies, eventually comparing his own behaviour to that of “Jimmy Savile.”
The investigation established that Fisher had sex with the victim more than 20 times between October 2013 and March 2015. Police Scotland reported that the offences occurred in various locations, including his car, his home, and local woods in South Ayrshire. Despite Fisher’s attempts to teach the victim how to hide their contact, police computer forensics experts recovered more than 1,000 incriminating Skype messages from the girl’s laptop. The prosecution reported that Fisher, who had previously served as a police special constable, admitted to his victim that he had a live-in girlfriend and a child while grooming the teenager.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Fisher manipulated the victim’s emotions by initially pretending to help her with school-related stress and “life in general.” Ayr Sheriff Court heard how the grooming process escalated from daily contact on Facebook and Skype to physical dates. The prosecution reported that during their seventh meeting in his car, Fisher initiated sexual contact, leaving the 14-year-old in a state of shock.
Sheriff Desmond Leslie noted the “incriminating” nature of the recovered messages and the gross breach of trust involved in targeting a pupil. For his actions in Prestwick and Troon, Fisher was convicted of having unlawful sex and breaching a position of trust. The judge noted that offences of this nature generally attract a custodial sentence and deferred the final sentencing for background reports and a full risk assessment.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Scotland, Ryan Fisher was handed:
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated immediately.
- Judicial Oversight: Convicted at Ayr Sheriff Court; sentencing deferred for reports (June 2019).
- Professional Status: Struck off from the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).
- Criminal Record: Convicted of unlawful sex and breach of trust.
- Origin: Troon, South Ayrshire (Offences at Prestwick Academy).
Monitoring and Public Protection
Fisher is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Police Scotland and the National Probation Service in the South Ayrshire area. Due to the “calculating” nature of the 20 sexual encounters and his history as a computer science expert in Troon, his management is subject to high-level oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Fisher must comply with notification requirements regarding his identity and residence. Authorities state that his history of comparing himself to Jimmy Savile and grooming a pupil necessitates permanent and stringent monitoring of his conduct and digital access. Any further sexual misconduct or attempt to contact his victim in Prestwick, Troon, or elsewhere will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system for further incarceration.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.