Glasgow poet and creative writing lecturer found guilty of sexual assault at flat gathering

TW: Descriptions of sexual assault

A prominent Glasgow poet and lecturer has been found guilty of sexual assault after groping a woman and forcing his tongue into her mouth at a gathering in his flat.

Jim Ferguson, 63, was placed on the sex offenders register following a conviction at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

According to The Times, Ferguson’s website says he is a creative writer tutor at Easterhouse Writers Group, a role which is funded by Glasgow Kelvin College.

The court heard that the incident took place at his flat in Dennistoun, where Ferguson had invited guests, including the victim, through mutual acquaintance Derek Brown.

The gathering, described as informal and involving drinks and music, had moved from a local venue back to Ferguson’s flat. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was listening to music with Ferguson when he suddenly assaulted her.

“Ferguson enacted a very quick movement,” said prosecutor Redmond Harris. “He grabbed her breast, tried to kiss her, and placed his tongue in her mouth.” The woman grimaced and told him: “No, Jim,” but he persisted.

Ferguson, a long-standing figure in Scotland’s literary community, denied all charges and claimed the incident was fabricated as part of a vendetta.

In his defence, he alleged the accusation stemmed from a campaign of harassment launched by Derek, a former friend, after being removed from the Glasgow Literary Lounge poetry club, which Ferguson was involved in.

Under questioning from his lawyer, Liam Runciman, Ferguson claimed: “No. I never have [sexually assaulted her].” He also stated that the victim had only seen him perform poetry and that the two had met just three times in three decades.

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However, the court heard from the victim that she had visited Ferguson’s flat once before in a social setting and believed the environment to be safe due to the presence of mutual acquaintances. Her testimony, described as clear and consistent, was a key factor in securing the conviction.

Despite his protestation, the court found Ferguson guilty, highlighting the victim’s testimony and his actions on the night of the incident.

Ferguson has been an active creative writing tutor with the Easterhouse Writers Group, a position funded by Glasgow Kelvin College. He earned his doctorate at the University of Glasgow and was once dubbed “poet laureate” of the city’s Scotia Bar, a landmark once frequented by Billy Connolly. His published works include Weird Pleasure and the essay 20th Century Prison Blues.

Following his charge, Ferguson continued to protest his innocence on social media, portraying himself as the target of a “campaign of harassment.” He labelled his accusers “dangerous and destructive fantasists” and appealed to the public to report what he described as “defamatory” posts and poems about him.

“I remain aware that two persons have been posting horrible stuff about myself,” he wrote online, offering to buy a pint for anyone who could help identify them.

Ferguson also complained about anonymous poems being circulated online which mocked and criticised him directly. He described these as “defamatory” and part of a smear campaign, urging his followers to take screenshots and report the posts to Facebook.

He claimed: “These people are dangerous and destructive fantasists.”

He also alleged, without evidence, that the social media posts and accusations were coordinated in retaliation for his opposition to certain decisions made within the Glasgow poetry scene.

In an earlier post, Ferguson attempted to deflect attention from his legal troubles by referencing global issues: “Whatever my personal struggles, they are nothing compared to what is happening collectively to the people of Palestine right now.”

Ferguson’s conviction marks a striking fall from grace for a once-respected figure in Glasgow’s cultural landscape. Sentencing is expected in the coming weeks.

Featured image via Google Maps