A former Durham University director has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women.
Andrew Harston sexually assaulted one woman and while being investigated by police, went on to sexually assault a second woman in a separate incident. The 39-year-old denied the offences, but was found guilty following a trial at Teesside Crown Court.
On Tuesday afternoon, Harston, of Shiell Heights, Aykley Heads, Durham, was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration. The charges date back to when Harston was Director of Development and Alumni Relations at the prestigious university.
The jury found that Harston sexually assaulted a drunk, sleeping woman at a home and committed assault by penetration. The second sexual assault related to another woman, who was also said to be intoxicated at the time. The court heard the offences dated back to while Harston was under police investigation for the first set of allegations.
In police interviews, Harston maintained that any sexual activity with one of the women was consensual. Prosecutor, Ian Mullarkey told the trial: “It is the prosecution case that this defendant took advantage of [the women] while they were heavily in drink. He used their intoxication and vulnerability as an opportunity to sexually assault each one and has since tried to lie about what he did.”
Harston will be sentenced on Wednesday, March 12.
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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/former-durham-university-director-found-30934514
