A teacher at a prestigious Edinburgh private school who assaulted a child by binding their wrists and ankles together with cable ties, has walked free from court having been granted an absolute discharge.

Richard Robin Greenwood, 46, used the method of restraint in an attempt to calm the seven-year-old down while looking after them at a property in Edinburgh.

Greenwood admitted tying the child’s hands and feet together but claimed it happened while they were playing a game of “cops and robbers”.

The chemistry teacher denied assaulting the child but was found guilty of the charge following a three day trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday.

Greenwood–who teaches chemistry at the capital’s Merchiston Castle School–was also cleared of allegations including barricading the child in their room by blocking the door with a plank of wood.

Greenwood was found not guilty of assaulting a second child by pushing them and causing them to fall and strike their face and forcing their arms behind their back at a separate address in the capital.

Following the verdict defence advocate, Megan Davidson, asked the court to grant her client an absolute discharge as any criminal conviction would have a detrimental impact on his employment.

Ms Davidson said Greenwood had been teaching for 18 years and the offence had been “a momentary lapse of judgement”. Greenwood told the trial he had used the cable ties on the child while they played a game of “cops and robbers” and the youngster had voluntarily participated.

He said he was trying to calm the child down when they were having a tantrum after their mother had left to go on a night out.

The teacher said the child had attempted to climb out a window and had run out into the road on the evening the incident took place.

Greenwood, of Craiglockhart, Edinburgh, said the child was laughing during the game and had “held out his hands out in front of him” to have the cable ties put in place.

He told the court when looking back on the decision to use the ties on the child he felt “awful”.

He said: “It was really stupid and really naive to use such a piece of equipment that has such negative connotations from films and stuff for the purposes of the game.”

After finding the teacher guilty of a much reduced charge, Sheriff Peter McCormack said: “The conduct of tying the child up with cable ties amounts to conduct which falls outwith what is permissible."

“It matters not whether either the adult or child believe it to be game or a joke. It is simply not permissible to tie a child up with cable ties.”

The sheriff added: “Due to the unusual circumstances of this case I am willing to grant you an absolute discharge. “I trust this will be a lesson learned to avoid this sort of thing arising."

“I rather suspect that it occurred to you that you had done something that was inappropriate.”

Greenwood is the lead teacher of chemistry at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh which is Scotland’s only all-boys independent boarding school.

He studied chemistry at Imperial College in London and spent six years working in the agrochemical industry before going into teaching in 2008.

Merchiston Castle School has around 470 pupils and annual fees range between £18,000 to £50,000 depending on tuition and boarding requirements.

A Merchiston Castle School spokesperson said: “Merchiston Castle School notes today’s court verdict."

“The case did not involve any pupils or any allegation connected to the school. The matter related entirely to circumstances outside any professional setting."

“When the school was made aware of the charges, it followed its safeguarding procedures and sought appropriate specialist advice."

“Decisions regarding Mr Greenwood’s employment were made throughout in line with the school’s safeguarding responsibilities, legal obligations and the advice received."

“As this concerns an individual member of staff’s employment, it would not be appropriate to comment further while employment processes are ongoing.”