KEVIN O'GORMAN FROM MILNGAVIE CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS AT STRATHCLYDE AND HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITIES

A university professor from Milngavie has been found guilty of sexually assaulting multiple young male students over a period spanning several years. Kevin O'Gorman, aged 45, was convicted of abusing eight young men during his tenure at both Strathclyde University and Heriot-Watt University between the years 2006 and 2014. The case was heard at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, where it was revealed how O'Gorman exploited his professional authority to target vulnerable students who were seeking advanced degrees and academic success.

During the proceedings, Sheriff Alistair Noble detailed the disturbing nature of the incidents. One particularly harrowing account involved a victim who described how O'Gorman visited his flat, ordered him to remove his trousers, and then subjected him to abuse. The victim recounted that O'Gorman whipped him at least ten times during the encounter, leaving him visibly out of breath and with a red face. These accounts painted a picture of manipulation and exploitation by the accused, who held a significant position of influence as the director of Heriot-Watt University's School of Management and Languages.

O'Gorman faced a total of 19 charges, which he denied, involving 11 different young men. On Wednesday, the court acquitted him of three of these allegations but found him guilty of the remaining charges. Sheriff Noble expressed confidence in the credibility of the victims' testimonies, stating, "I have no problem concluding that the complainers who gave evidence against you were truthful and credible... I do not believe the account which you gave in which you claimed that these encounters were consensual. Your evidence differed greatly from the accounts of the complainers. Accordingly, I find you guilty."

In his defense, O'Gorman attempted to justify his actions by claiming he employed a 'mindfulness technique,' similar to methods used by the 18th-century economist Adam Smith, which involved ordering a student to stand in a corner. However, prosecutor Nicole Lavelle dismissed this explanation as 'incredible,' asserting that it was merely a cover-up for sexual gratification rather than a legitimate practice.

Following the conviction, O'Gorman was described as a first-time offender. His sentencing has been deferred to allow for further reports, with a scheduled hearing set for 18 September. The court's decision marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into misconduct at these universities, highlighting the serious consequences of abuse of authority in academic settings.