How many cases like this in today’s Times must there be every year in the UK, where there is literally not a shred of evidence (at least from the report) to back up the women’s claims – in this case, of alleged sexual abuse when they were teenagers, 40 years ago? What possible defence could the man have mounted? None. So how could he have proven his innocence? Literally impossible.

A retired music teacher who sexually abused two pupils 40 years ago has been jailed for four years.

William Wright, 78, preyed on the teenagers at a school in East Renfrewshire. One woman, now 54, told a jury that she was “terrified” of him.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said that she had felt helpless at being unable to object to the abuse because she needed his help to get through exams.

Judge Lord Arthurson told Wright in sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh that he had no other option but to reject the request by Wright’s lawyer for a non-custodial sentence.

He added: “Your behaviour has caused your victims, who are now aged in their fifties, significant and lasting psychological problems.”

At the court last month, Wright, a grandfather of eight from Elderslie, Renfrewshire, said that he had “no explanation” as to why the women would make such allegations. He had denied any wrongdoing.

He was convicted of two charges of using lewd and libidinous practices and behaviour and a charge of indecent assault towards the two women between August 1974 and June 1981.

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