MURRAY URQUHART

A teenage nursing student faces a ruined career after being convicted of sexually assaulting a woman at student accommodation in Dundee.

Murray Urquhart’s professional future was deemed “no longer feasible” following his admission to attacking the woman during an incident in the city.

He was sentenced to six months of supervision.

Details of the event emerged during a hearing at Dundee Sheriff Court, revealing that the incident occurred after a night of heavy drinking.

Urquhart, aged 18, the woman, and a friend all returned to a dormitory sometime early in the morning.

On the floor, Urquhart and his victim lay “top to tail.” Prosecutor Kate Scarborough outlined the sequence: “The accused pulled her towards him and kissed her.

“This was initially reciprocated, but she pulled away and said ‘no’.

“She turned her back, and he continued to hold her.

“She pretended to be asleep during this time.” Despite her apparent attempt to evade him, Urquhart placed his hands inside the woman’s top, groping her, then his hand went under her pyjamas.

She pushed him away and again told him “no,” at which point Urquhart apologized.

However, he persisted in his actions, again groping her and forcibly kissing her.

The woman later left to use the bathroom.

When she returned, she found Urquhart visibly upset, with his head in his hands.

The pair ultimately slept beside each other.

The woman confided in a friend about the assault the following morning.

Urquarch claimed he had no memory of the incident, attributing his memory loss to intoxication.

He sent a message via Snapchat saying, “Whatever I did, I wasn’t in the right place or state of mind and I want to take responsibility if you let me.” He, from Bowhill, Cardenden, pleaded guilty to the charge of sexual assault, including kissing her on the lips and touching her indecently beneath her clothing.

Solicitor Lee Qumsieh explained that his client had hoped to pursue a nursing career but that this conviction would prevent that.

He remarked, “He has no recollection of these events, his last memory is being in a takeaway.

“He accepts that he acted in this way.

“This case is going to have significant consequences for him.” During sentencing, Sheriff Mark O’Hanlon considered a community payback order with unpaid work but rejected it, citing that a sex offender registration requirement was more appropriate.

Urquhart was placed on supervision for six months and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for the same duration.