After losing her teaching career and marriage following a sex offence conviction, former English teacher Eppie Sprung Dawson has released a children’s book aimed at fostering honest conversations about mistakes and redemption within families.
Eppie Sprung Dawson, a former English teacher at St Joseph’s College in Dumfries, has embarked on a new chapter in her life by publishing a children’s book titled Here, with you. This endeavour appears to be a strategic move to reshape her public narrative after facing severe repercussions from a scandal that saw her lose her career and her marriage due to a relationship with a pupil. In December 2012, Sprung was discovered in a compromising position with a 17-year-old student, having reportedly agreed to provide him with extra lessons prior to the incident. The police found them partially undressed in her car parked in a layby after a Christmas dance, leading to her conviction for a breach of trust and subsequent placement on the sex offenders register.
The new book, aimed at facilitating conversations between parents and children about past mistakes, is framed around a dialogue between two bears—a parent and a child. Sprung asserts that it is designed to help families talk candidly about issues related to parental criminal convictions. The narrative, laden with a slogan proclaiming that “making bad choices doesn’t make you a bad person,” highlights the importance of such discussions in navigating the complexities of personal history—a stark contrast to her own circumstances. Sprung has articulated her motivations for this project in a blog post titled “Not a Monster, a Mum,” where she candidly reflects on the challenges her children might face in discovering her past.
The consequences of Sprung’s actions have been profound. Following her conviction, she was permanently struck off the teaching register and is barred from reapplying for a teaching position for at least two years. Despite these challenges, Sprung has expressed a desire to move beyond her past, illustrating a level of remorse and a commitment to rehabilitation. In recent years, she founded a charity named Next Chapter Scotland that aims to support individuals with criminal records, assisting them in navigating the stigma and discrimination that often accompany such histories.
Despite her charitable intentions, Sprung’s journey has not been without controversy. Earlier this year, she stirred public debate by discussing the societal stigma attached to her conviction during a call-in segment on BBC Radio One. Sprung voiced frustrations about how her criminal record affects her ability to be accepted socially, particularly lamenting her exclusion from children’s parties. Many viewers have remarked on her seemingly tone-deaf sentiment regarding the lasting consequences of her actions.
Interestingly, there are additional layers of context regarding Sprung’s background that surface through her narrative. It has been revealed that she herself was a victim of sexual abuse during her teenage years, which her legal counsel suggested may have impacted her decisions as an adult. This twist adds complexity to her story, illustrating how trauma can shape individuals’ choices, sometimes resulting in dire consequences.
Furthermore, the public’s reaction has varied significantly. Some express empathy, acknowledging the potential for personal transformation and redemption, while others remain sceptical about her motivations, questioning whether her current ventures serve more as attempts at self-promotion than genuine rehabilitative efforts.
Ultimately, Sprung’s published book serves as a voice not only of personal revelation but also as a challenge to societal perceptions surrounding individuals with criminal records. As she navigates her new life as a mother and author, she continues to grapple with the enduring impact of her past actions—a narrative that resonates on multiple levels within discussions about accountability, stigma, and personal growth.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/sex-shame-teacher-romping-pupil-35287746 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-25315594 – In December 2013, Eppie Sprung Dawson, a teacher at St Joseph’s College in Dumfries, was removed from the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s register after admitting to having sex with a 17-year-old pupil. The incident occurred when police found them partially undressed in a car in a layby near Dumfries. Dawson, 26 at the time, was placed on the sex offenders register and given a community payback order. She cannot reapply for teaching registration for at least two years. The case was referred to Scottish ministers to decide if she should be permanently barred from working with children.
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-21846775 – In March 2013, Eppie Sprung Dawson, a teacher at St Joseph’s College in Dumfries, admitted to having sex with a 17-year-old pupil in a car parked in a lay-by near the town. The incident occurred in December 2012 when police found them partially undressed. Dawson, 26 at the time, was married and had been providing extra lessons to the pupil. The court deferred sentencing but placed her on the sex offenders register. Dawson’s solicitor revealed she had been sexually abused as a teenager, which may have influenced her actions.
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-22780343 – In June 2013, a court heard that Eppie Sprung Dawson, a teacher at St Joseph’s College in Dumfries, had been sexually abused as a teenager by a man 29 years her senior. This abuse occurred when she was between 13 and 18 years old. Dawson, 26 at the time, had admitted to having sex with a 17-year-old pupil in a car parked in a lay-by near Dumfries. The court deferred sentencing to allow her to undertake psycho-sexual counselling but indicated she would not be jailed.
- https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1957113/teacher-eppie-Sprung-Dawson-found-naked-with-pupil-stigmatised – In June 2021, Eppie Sprung Dawson, a former teacher at St Joseph’s College in Dumfries, expressed concerns about being stigmatised following her conviction for having sex with a 17-year-old pupil in 2012. She was caught partially undressed with the pupil in a car after a Christmas party. Dawson, 38 at the time, had been married and was placed on the sex offenders register for six months. She later set up a charity advocating for people to be judged based on their current selves rather than past crimes.
- https://navigatingthenextchapter.wordpress.com/ – Eppie Sprung Dawson, a former teacher at St Joseph’s College in Dumfries, runs a blog titled ‘Navigating the Next Chapter’. In this blog, she shares her experiences of living with a criminal record, discussing challenges such as employment, parenting, health treatment, relationships, business, insurance, and media attention. Dawson, who was convicted in 2012 for having sex with a 17-year-old pupil, aims to help others navigate the discrimination faced by individuals with criminal records.
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-23257029 – In August 2013, Eppie Sprung Dawson, a teacher at St Joseph’s College in Dumfries, was placed under social work supervision after admitting to having sex with a 17-year-old pupil. The incident occurred in December 2012 when police found them partially undressed in a car parked in a lay-by near Dumfries. Dawson, 26 at the time, was married and had been providing extra lessons to the pupil. The court deferred sentencing to allow her to undertake psycho-sexual counselling but indicated she would not be jailed.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative introduces new information about Eppie Sprung Dawson’s recent publication of a children’s book titled *Here, with you*. However, the article references past events from 2012 and 2013, which are well-documented in previous reports. The inclusion of these older details may affect the overall freshness score. Additionally, the article appears to be based on a press release, which typically warrants a higher freshness score. The earliest known publication date of similar content is from 2013. ([bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-25315594?utm_source=openai)) The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([dailyrecord.co.uk](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/teacher-eppie-sprung-dawson-struck-2909628?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Eppie Sprung Dawson’s blog post titled “Not a Monster, a Mum.” A search for the earliest known usage of these quotes indicates that they originate from this blog post. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, suggesting that the content is potentially original or exclusive. However, the wording of the quotes varies slightly in different sources, which may indicate paraphrasing or adaptation.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Record, a reputable UK newspaper. However, the article appears to be based on a press release, which may affect the perceived reliability. The inclusion of older, well-documented events from 2012 and 2013 raises questions about the originality of the content. Additionally, the article references a blog post titled “Not a Monster, a Mum,” which is not widely known and may not be easily verifiable.
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative presents a plausible account of Eppie Sprung Dawson’s recent activities, including the publication of her children’s book and her reflections on past events. The inclusion of older events from 2012 and 2013 is well-documented and aligns with previous reports. However, the reliance on a press release and the inclusion of older material may affect the overall plausibility score. The tone and language used in the article are consistent with typical journalistic standards.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative introduces new information about Eppie Sprung Dawson’s recent publication of a children’s book, but it also recycles older material from 2012 and 2013. The reliance on a press release and the inclusion of older events may affect the overall freshness and originality of the content. The quotes used in the article are potentially original or exclusive, but slight variations in wording suggest possible paraphrasing. The source is a reputable UK newspaper, but the inclusion of older material and reliance on a press release raise questions about the reliability and originality of the content. The narrative is plausible and consistent with previous reports, but the overall assessment remains open due to concerns about freshness, originality, and potential disinformation.
