Teacher who was struck off for sexual offence back in court for theft

Sep 29 2011 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

A FORMER teacher who was struck off after being convicted of a sexual assault was back in court again last week.

David Morrissey – who changed his name from David Hatcher – was back in the dock last Thursday after he broke into his ex-wife’s home and stole her driving licence.

Hamilton Sheriff Court was told that the 48-year-old – who was sacked from his post by South Lanarkshire Council earlier this year – had planned to get his own possessions from the house, but ended up stealing his wife’s licence as well.

Morrissey, now living in Motherwell town centre, pleaded guilty to breaking a window and entering his former home in Kenilworth Avenue, Wishaw, before stealing the licence.

The offence was committed on July 10 this year – while the accused was on probation and the Sex Offenders’ Register for other offences.

However, the Crown accepted Morrissey’s not guilty plea to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by brandishing a hammer at the house on the same date.

The fiscal-depute told Sheriff Thomas Millar the theft arose after the break-up of the accused’s relationship with his wife.

The accused went to the former matrimonial home, where he “no longer resided and was no longer welcome” to find the locks changed. Morrissey, he said, gained entry by breaking a window.

He was later discovered by his teenage son, the court heard.

Defence solicitor Brian Selby explained that, on the evening in question, his client had gathered his own possessions from the home.

However, he discovered his wife’s licence in a drawer and simply took it, when he knew he shouldn’t have, said Mr Selby.

Morrissey, said the solicitor, was under stress at the time of the offence due to the breakdown of his 23-year marriage.

“However, matters have been resolved and my client has now moved on,” said Mr Selby.

Sheriff Millar deferred sentence on Morrissey until October 18, calling for a criminal justice social work report and a probation progress report

Bail was continued.

In May this year, the Advertiser reported how Morrissey, then known as Hatcher, was slapped with a three-year probation order and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register after he threatened to “ravish” a woman.

The 48-year-old admitted four charges, including a sexual assault, relating to incidents in February and March last year.

Hatcher, formerly of Wishaw, was a registered secondary teacher and was employed by South Lanarkshire Council.

The father-of-three was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman as well as driving while unfit, breaching the peace and breaching bail.

He pleaded guilty to attacking the woman – who cannot be named for legal reasons – at a home in Wishaw on March 18 and 19, 2010.

He admitted repeatedly putting his arms around her, attempting to kiss her mouth, pressing his fists into her body and threatening to ravish her.

He also unbuttoned the woman’s trousers and pulled off her boots.

Hatcher also admitted committing a breach of the peace by repeatedly phoning the woman, a 15-year-old girl and another female on February 15 and 16 last year. The teacher made threats before repeatedly going to a house in Allanton, near Shotts, banging a door there and placing all three women in a state of fear and alarm.

Hatcher pleaded guilty to a further charge of driving while unfit through drink or drugs on February 16, 2010, as well as a charge of breaching bail conditions by contacting the victim.