AN ACTING teacher has been cleared of groping a teenage pupil and sending explicit messages to other students.

Gordon Brown, 53, was alleged to have committed the crimes at a school in Glasgow's north west between August 2016 and 2018.

Court papers stated Brown, of Stirling, was in a position of trust of the girls in his capacity as a teacher.

It was claimed that former Still Game and Shetland actor Brown engaged in sexual activity with or towards four girls.

The first charge stated that Brown repeatedly touched her on the leg and groped her breast.

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He was further accused of repeatedly making comments and sending messages to her of a sexual nature.

A second charge claimed that Brown made comments of a sexual nature and touched the leg of another girl.

A third allegation stated Brown made remarks about the appearance of a further girl.

It was said he also repeatedly made comments and sent messages to her of a sexual nature.

A final charge claimed that he repeatedly made comments to a fourth girl which were of a sexual nature.

Brown denied the charges at Glasgow Sheriff Court and stood trial before a jury.

However, Brown was acquitted after the Crown were unable to prove the ages of all but one of the alleged victims which all required corroboration.

Sheriff Shona Gilroy said: "Looking at the facts and submissions, there are two requirements - that the conduct took place and it was while the alleged victims were under 18.

"My view is that the Crown have failed to satisfy the necessary elements required about when they were 17 or under 18."