Scots teacher accused of 20 sex offences and abusing children at school

A Scots teacher has appeared in court charged with more than 20 sex offences - including claims be abused children at the school where he worked.

Martin Gallacher, who taught at Paisley Grammar School, appeared in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court to face 22 charges.

The 46-year-old is accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy at the Renfrewshire Council-run school in 2024.

Prosecutors claim he touched the teen, stroked his back and placed his hands into his shorts and underwear.

The second charge he faces also alleges he repeatedly sexually abused a boy when the youngster was aged between 10 and 12.

Court papers claim the abuse took place at the school and elsewhere between 2013 and 2016 and saw Gallacher performing sex acts on the boy and sitting the pupil on his knee.

He is also accused of communicating in an "indecent and sexual matter" with the same boy between the same dates.

And he is accused of abusing the boy when the youngster was aged between 13 and 15, between 2016 and 2018.

All of the 22 charges Gallacher faces are alleged sexual offences, with 19 being sexual assaults.

Of the 19 alleged sex attacks, 10 involve children who were under the age of 13 at the time.

All 22 charges are brought under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009.

As well as the "indecent and sexual" communication charge, he faces two firther charges of indecent communication.

Gallacher, of Paisley, pleaded not guilty during a hearing on Friday, May 1, 2026, and a jury trial was set for later this year.