FORMER DUNDEE UNIVERSITY STUDENT BANNED FROM TEACHING AFTER ‘GROPING WOMAN OUTSIDE NIGHTCLUB’
A former Dundee University student has been found unfit to teach due to his alleged sexualised behaviour at the university.Ryan Cochrane was allegedly involved in several incidents, which a General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) panel said “formed a pattern of sexualised and unwanted behaviour towards female students”.
Six allegations relating to incidents between September 2018 and September 2019 were considered at a GTCS hearing.
He did not attend the hearing and has 28 days to appeal.
One woman, referred to as Witness 1, told the hearing that Cochrane was on the same course and lived in the same university halls as her.
In September 2018, Cochrane allegedly approached the woman from behind, grabbed her bottom and kissed her without her consent outside The Union nightclub.
On January or February 2019, he allegedly lifted her off the ground, putting his hands on her bare body under her dress without her consent.
Cochrane then failed to put Witness 1 down when she asked him to and “deliberately” exposed her lower body.
The GTCS panel stated: “She [Witness 1] said that looking back at her university experience, it makes her look back at that time with some upset.” “She said that if the applicant was to act that way with a colleague in teaching, it would be wholly inappropriate.” The hearing also revealed that Cochrane allegedly asked another woman, Witness 2, “why are you wearing that, are you wearing that out?” while she was with a group of other girls.
Witness 2 explained he commented while she was getting ready to go out, implying she was not dressed provocatively.
Cochrane was also accused of grabbing Witness 4 by the breasts, pushing and touching her body.
Witness 2 also reported him grabbing her by the bum, entering her room while she was asleep, hugging her, and placing his face against hers.
He allegedly entered her room the following day when she was very drunk and nearly unconscious.
Further, he reportedly touched Witness 3 repeatedly on the leg near her genital area during a university event, continued despite being told to stop, and attempted to follow her into a friend's flat.
In September 2019, he approached Witness 2 at a nightclub, grabbing her bum and trapping her against a pillar.
The witnesses and others had reported Cochrane’s behaviour to Dundee University in early 2020, which led to an investigation.
The GTCS decision concluded that “the behaviour amounted to harassing behaviour and was predatory in nature”.
It also noted Cochrane showed no remorse or apology and was drunk at the time, which he alleged to explain his conduct.
The panel decided he is unfit to teach, citing that his behaviour falls significantly short of the standards expected and that there was no evidence he would not act similarly again.
A Dundee University spokesperson stated: “GTC Scotland is an independent regulator and its fitness to teach decisions are taken by independent panels at their discretion under a statutory process.
The university cannot comment on individual cases, particularly while the process is ongoing, including any right of appeal.” Cochrane chose not to comment when approached.
