High School music teacher, Matthew Birch, has been convicted of two girls, having sex with another and engaging in sexual activity with others. All of the acts were carried out whilst he was in a position of trust. 
The court heard that the 45 year old preyed on vulnerable pupils and offered support to them in order to gain their trust. The offences occurred between August 2004 and December 2017.  He invited one of the young girls to take part in a photoshoot before he raped her at her home. He raped another girl on a number of occasions at his property in Falkirk. 
He was found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with others in classrooms, his car and at an address in Edinburgh. 
Procurator Fiscal for High Court sexual offences stated: “Matthew Birch abused his position of power to target vulnerable young girls in what should have been a place of safety for them. His crimes have had a lasting impact on the lives of his victims but he has been brought to justice thanks to their courage throughout the prosecution process.
He continued: “All reports of sexual offending are taken extremely seriously and I would urge anyone who has been the victim of similar crimes to come forward and seek support.”
Birth was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow to an 11-year custodial sentence.