Victim's anger as 'master manipulator' Glasgow professor avoids jail over abuse

Professor Kevin O'Gorman, 45, abused eight young men while working at Strathclyde and Heriot-Watt universities between 2006 and 2014.

But he avoided a custodial sentnece, instead being ordered to carry out community service and being placed on the Sex Offenders' Register.

Fraser Blevins, one of O'Gorman's victims who waived his right to anonymity to tell of their dismay of O’Gorman’s behaviour, has since spoken out following the sentencing. 

He said: "I am disappointed it wasn't a custodial sentence.

"It's difficult to imagine that man being free in the comfort of his own home.

"I hope the community service at least addresses his ego as he has never appeared to show any remorse."

The case was heard at Edinburgh Sheriff Court

The 32-year-old added: “That man is nothing short of a monster who preyed on innocent people.

“I am disappointed it wasn’t a custodial sentence.

"I was only 17 when he groomed and abused me and others for his own sick gratification.

"For me, it’s too late for Strathclyde University to say sorry.”

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard how O’Gorman abused his position to prey on vulnerable students.

The court heard how he targeted those who needed help and managed to convince them that they couldn’t succeed without his assistance.

Sheriff Alistair Noble heard one of the victims say that O’Gorman visited him at his flat and ordered him to remove his trousers and bend over a bed. 

He said that he had been whipped at least 10 times which left O’Gorman “out of breath and red-faced”.

Another complainer described, how over the course of a Skype call, he was made to stand in a corner and beat himself with a wooden spoon.

 But the Sheriff decided that the nature of the offences meant that O’Gorman didn’t need to be jailed. 

The court also heard that O’Gorman was a former scoutmaster who had helped young Scouts in times of difficulty. 

Sheriff Noble ordered him to perform 240 hours of community service and be supervised by the authorities for the next three years. 

READ MORE: Strathclyde University to hold inquiry after ex staff member guilty of sex crimes

The lecturer was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.

Sheriff Noble told him: “You continue to maintain the position that you advanced at your trial – that whilst did behave in an inappropriate way, what you did was not criminal. 

“You position differed from those who gave evidence against you – I found the witnesses to be truthful and credible. 

O’Gorman, of Milngavie, denied a total of 19 charges against 11 young men.

However, Sheriff Noble acquitted O’Gorman on three of the allegations and convicted him on all other charges.

One victim, now aged 38, told the court that O’Gorman repeatedly manhandled male PhD students and that they developed a “collective coping mechanism”. 

Another student, aged 24, told of how O’Gorman told him to take off his trousers on a Skype video call as “punishment” for not working hard enough. 

He said O’Gorman told him: “If you act or behave like a child, you’ll be treated like a child.

”O’Gorman claimed that he didn’t abuse the students. He claimed that when he ordered a student to stand in the corner, he was following a “mindfulness technique” similar to the one used by Adam Smith, the 18th century economist.

Strathclyde University is holding an inquiry into its handling of complaints of sexual misconduct against O’Gorman.

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, principal, said: “The safety and well-being of our students is always our first priority and I am determined that we will learn from this case.”