Locations
Renfrew and Houston, Scotland
Description
A HEADTEACHER who was extradited from Spain has been convicted of carrying out horrific sexual abuse in Renfrewshire.
Vile rapist James Berry, 77, preyed on two women, committing a string of attacks spanning three decades.
The crimes took place in Renfrew and Houston, as well as houses in Govan and Crookston, mainly between 1963 and 1987.
Berry is the owner and headteacher of exclusive British school King Richard III College, in Mallorca, where he had lived for 30 years before being hauled back to Scotland in 2019 to face justice.
He is now behind bars after he was found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow today of a total of five charges, including raping both women.
Berry was also said to have been abusive in Spain and Canada.
The oldest of the two victims once told a priest how she had suffered.
However, Berry insisted it was "rubbish" that he had used "controlling" behaviour on the woman.
He told the court: "I was not a dictator."
Prosecutors said the woman suffered at his violent hands, including being sexually assaulted, punched and grabbed by the throat.
The second victim recalled being abused at Glasgow's Hilton Hotel and during a driving lesson.
Quizzed about these allegations by his QC Claire Mitchell, Berry said: "She was never abused, I can assure you."
Miss Mitchell put it to him: "It is said you ordered her to do things, she was compliant and scared of you, that she did your bidding sexually."
Berry denied this and told jurors: "I have been teaching for 50 years and I have a perfect record."
Prosecutor Kath Harper later suggested to Berry that, if he was telling the truth, he was the target of "horrific allegations."
He replied: "Yes."
Berry, who spoke of a friendship with a former Rangers player, also said allegations against him had been made as part of a "criminal conspiracy" to take over his school.
After the guilty verdict was delivered, Miss Harper told jurors Berry had been brought back to Scotland on a European Arrest Warrant.
He had been living near a golf course in Santa Ponsa, Mallorca, with his wife and three young children.
Judge Thomas Welsh QC deferred sentencing until February 28 for background reports.
He told Berry: "I am not prepared to continue bail, so you will be remanded meantime."
Berry had been accompanied during the trial by a woman who works with him at the school in Spain.
He waved to her as he was led to the cells.