PASQUALE GALIANNI'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN ST ANDREWS: UNIVERSITY STAR SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS

An accomplished student from the University of St Andrews has been handed a five-year prison sentence after being found guilty of sexually assaulting two female students on the university campus. Pasquale Galianni, aged 31, was convicted of attacking these women on two separate occasions, specifically on November 28, 2013, and April 10 of the following year. The incidents took place within the grounds of the university, where Galianni targeted young women who were walking alone near their halls of residence, subjecting them to brief yet terrifying sexual assaults that left lasting trauma.

During the sentencing at the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Burns delivered a stern judgment, emphasizing the disturbing nature of Galianni’s actions. He stated, “It is clear you have a disturbing interest in voyeurism and this led you to follow and sexually assault young women. Both these girls were attacked while walking alone near to their halls of residence, subjected to brief but terrifying sexual assaults. All women in this country are entitled to be able to go about their business without being subjected to such humiliating attacks.”

Further compounding Galianni’s criminal history, the court was informed of previous convictions in Germany dating back to 2006, where he was convicted of similar offenses involving three students. The judge also ordered that Galianni be monitored in the community for a period of two years following his release, citing the significant danger he poses to the public. Although the court considered the possibility of deporting him back to Italy after serving his sentence, Galianni was ultimately expelled from St Andrews University, effectively ending his academic pursuits there.

Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Galianni exhibited troubling sexual interests and was classified as a dangerous individual. A prior case involved a 19-year-old student whom he grabbed and pinned down, with forensic evidence linking him directly to the assault. Despite admitting to having sex with a woman who was intoxicated at the time, prosecutors chose not to pursue a rape charge, focusing instead on the assault and voyeurism allegations.

Remarkably, Galianni had achieved academic recognition, notably receiving a prestigious research prize in Astronomy in 2013 and working on cosmological models during his PhD studies. His defense team argued that both of the recent attacks lasted only a few seconds and claimed that Galianni was actively seeking help for his problematic sexual interests, with support from his family and partner. Nevertheless, his criminal conduct overshadowed his academic accomplishments, leading to his expulsion from the university and his subsequent imprisonment.

Law enforcement officials praised the bravery of the victims who came forward to report these crimes, acknowledging the importance of their courage in ensuring justice was served. The case highlights the ongoing concerns about individuals with problematic sexual interests and the need for vigilant monitoring to prevent further harm to the community.