Alnwick school tutor seen by mum and child committing sex act in public toilet wearing only a bra

Steven Ballantyne, of Alnwick, who taught performing arts, was found guilty of outraging public decency

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17:24, 30 SEP 2022
Updated23:05, 3 OCT 2022

Steven Ballantyne, convicted of outraging public decency (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

A school tutor was caught committing a sex act while wearing only a bra in a female toilet by a shocked mum and her young daughter.

Steven Ballantyne, a performing arts teacher, was in an unlocked toilet at a BP garage in Northumberland when he was seen by the woman and her five-year-old daughter. Another woman then also witnessed the disturbing scene.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Ballantyne was employed by Northumberland County Council and worked in numerous schools on a supply basis. That career is now in tatters after a jury convicted him of outraging public decency and the council terminated his employment.

The offence happened at the filling station in Alnwick around 6.30pm one evening in January. The mother who saw him said in a victim impact statement: "I wish to say this has disgusted me.

"I'm in shock. I think it's wrong what he has done. My five-year-old daughter has seen this man."

The other woman who witnessed it added: "I wish to say I'm shocked by what I've seen. I was frightened and can't believe this male has been doing this in a public toilet. I'm disgusted and his behaviour is clearly wrong."

Ballantyne, 41, of St Georges Crescent, Alnwick, was sentenced to five months suspended for two years with 200 hours unpaid work. He must also sign the sex offenders register and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order and was given a restraining order banning him from going to the BP garage in question or any female public toilet.

Judge Sarah Mallett said the most serious aspect of the case was the fact the act was witnessed by a young child. She added: "You remained for a lengthy period where you had been seen and remained for a time after you had been seen.

"You knew there was a risk a female or child or disabled person could see what you were doing. I conclude that was your aim. You did cause some distress and fear."

Peter Schofield, defending, said: "He still denies the allegation in terms of what took place. He very much regrets he is in this situation today.

"He has lost his good name. He has worked as a performing arts instructor for more than 20 years, leading up to the pandemic when he was furloughed.

"He speaks with some pride about his students. He was involved in 19 or 20 schools a week working on a supply basis, working for Northumberland County Council.

"He has had to close a bank of experience providing worthwhile tutoring for students. That's a real loss.

"It's horrific, with his background that he is appearing before the court in respect of something as humiliating as this. The fact he engaged in this conduct so close to home with the risk of people knowing him is bizarre in the extreme."

A Northumberland County Council spokesperson said: "It is the local authority's responsibility to ensure Northumberland's children and young people are safe in the environments they learn. For this reason, Mr Ballantyne was suspended from work on 2 February 2021 and following investigations into his behaviour by the relevant authorities we made the decision to terminate his employment in July 2021."