Ballet teacher accused of sexual assaults on girls
The charges at Dumbarton sheriff court relate to nine students and are alleged to have taken place between September 2004 and July 2019
LES GALLAGHER
A teacher has gone on trial accused of carrying out sex acts on nine teenage ballet students.
Jonathan Barton is alleged to have committed the majority of the offences at a ballet school in Argyll and Bute. He denies all charges.
The charges span between September 2004 and July 2019 and alleged victims were girls aged between 16 and 18.
Court papers state that Barton, 41, was a teacher “in a position of trust” at the time.
He is alleged to have had sexual intercourse and engaged in sexual activity with a girl aged between 16 and 18.
This is said to have taken place at the school, at a hotel in Stirling as well as on a car journey.
Barton is also alleged to