St Andrews Rifle Club Coach Found Guilty of Sexually Assaulting Students

Patrick Jess, former coach for the University of St Andrews Rifle Club, has been found guilty of four charges of sexual assault at Dundee Sheriff Court, according to an article published in The Courier.

Jess, 52, was a volunteer for the club, reportedly allowing his victims to falsely believe that he was an “historical researcher” at the University. He stated in his trial that he was ashamed to admit his role as a stay-at-home husband.

He told the court, “I wanted people to believe I was normal and had a normal job. I let people believe something that wasn’t true.”

“I didn’t tell my friends and family I was unemployed and a house husband. What I wanted to do was teach people. I felt like a failure.”

Jess was convicted of sexually assaulting another student between 2021 and 2023. Again, Jess was found guilty of inappropriately touching her. Jess was also found guilty of touching a third student inappropriately.

A fourth student Jess sexually assaulted between 2022 and 2023. In court, Jess was asked if he thought his behaviour was predatory, to which he responded, “No, I do not.”

“I have got a way in which I interact with people — if I share an interest with somebody, I share it really intensely. If somebody asks me to help them about something I just keep going. I would go into hours and days and weeks in an attempt to fix things.”

“I have a very, very dark — fairly extreme — sense of humour. I have also tended to use double entendre.”

Jess is due to be sentenced in May. He has been placed on the sex offenders register, and the University of St Andrews have removed him as a volunteer.

The Saint contacted both the University and the Rifle Club for a statement, but both disclosed that they are unable to comment given the ongoing nature of the case.

Image by University of St Andrews