STV NewsThe Crown Office is to consider whether the sentencing of a former teacher found guilty of the historical abuse of children at a former residential school in Angus was “unduly lenient”.
Patricia Robertson, now known as Baxter, faced a total of 25 charges, which took place at Fornethy House between 1967 and 1983.
The 77-year-old was found guilty of 18 charges involving the cruel and unnatural treatment of children in her care, including force-feeding them until they gagged, striking them with a ruler and dragging them by their hair.
Robertson was told at the High Court in Glasgow that the offences passed the custody threshold but that a prison sentence can only be imposed on someone who has never been in jail before if it is deemed that there is no appropriate alternative.
The judge decided instead to put Robertson on probation, involving being supervised for three years.
Robertson was also ordered to pay the 18 victims compensation of £1,000 each, which has to be done within two months.
She will further be subject to a restriction of liberty order keeping her at home between 3pm and midnight for the next 12 months.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has said it is considering the sentence.
A spokesperson said: “Sentencing decisions are made by the judge. The law only allows COPFS to appeal in very rare circumstances.
“As with all cases, COPFS will consider the sentence and determine whether it might meet the test of being unduly lenient.”
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