A pervert professor’s vile sexual predator tactics turned students to “slaves”, according to a bombshell report.
Former business professor Kevin O’Gorman was last year convicted of sexually assaulting seven men at Strathclyde and Heriot-Watt universities between 2006 and 2017.
Strathclyde University principal Sir Jim McDonald commissioned an inquiry which found that O’Gorman’s behaviour – which included touching men’s bottoms and talking about “a*** whippings” – was an open secret.
The Record can reveal that his twisted conduct was flagged up as early as May 2011, the report found.
One victim – called Student D in the report – was abused in his own home, his parents’ house and O’Gorman’s home.
The report, by Craig Sandison QC, said: “O’Gorman had given him to understand that he was very influential and would help him. Academic help had been given but perceived faults in his work, or failure to meet difficult targets, led to talk of punishment and quickly to the actuality of stripping and being beaten with belt or hand, then to apparent forgiveness and the restarting of the cycle again and again.
“D had found himself entirely in O’Gorman’s thrall, working as a research slave for him.”
The report suggested that little could be done to prevent the same thing happening again.
In a letter to staff and students, McDonald said: “Any student, member of staff, or visitor to campus can report something that they are concerned about anonymously through our online report and support system.”
