Former student tells of Beggs terror

Beggs tutored at Paisley University while doing a PhD

New details of William Beggs' predatory nature have emerged after his conviction for the murder of Kilmarnock teenager Barry Wallace.

A former student of Paisley University has told BBC Scotland that Beggs also tried to strike up an intimate relationship with him.

The man, who was traumatised by the experience and does not wish to be named, said he was "glad" that Beggs was sentenced to life in prison.

His harrowing experience corroborates other details about Beggs' personality, which emerged during the trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

William Beggs has previous convictions

The former Paisley University student told BBC Scotland of the night he and Beggs stayed at a friend's house.

He said: "I lay down on the floor. About half an hour later he lay down on the floor next to me.

"I thought this was a bit strange at first but I just ignored it. Half an hour later I felt it again, the sleeping bag moving.

"This time I actually felt a touch on my leg, so, I turned around and said 'what the hell are you up to'.

"I just got up and took my stuff through to my pals room. Half an hour to an hour later he walks through with his duvet in his hand.

"He walked over to the window and started looking out. I just stood up and said 'get out of the house'."

'He'd do it again'

The former student then described his horror at discovering a broken razor blade in the house the following morning.

"There was a Bic razor that was all broken up and the blade was missing from it," he said.

"I've been seeing myself as being very lucky.

"I don't know what he was planning on doing that night, I really can't imagine. I don't even want to imagine. I try not to think about it really."

The former student added: "I'm very glad that he's been found guilty because I think its quite likely he'd do it again.

"It would take a lot to stop him doing whatever he wanted."

This man was traumatised by his dealings with Beggs

These chilling details shed more light on the predatory nature of Beggs' sexuality and appear to corroborate evidence given by police at his trial.

One officer read a statement from Kenneth Petrie, who is now dead, telling how he came to know a man called "Ian Beggs".

Several former colleagues of Beggs later confirmed that they also knew him by this name.

Mr Petrie's statement said that he had "known Ian Beggs casually for about two years now".

It added: "Ian also discussed with me how he would rather pick up a guy from a straight pub as opposed to from a gay pub."

'Ian liked to cruise'

Mr Petrie told Beggs he could not do that because he was frightened of being assaulted.

"Once he got them back to his flat he would give them more drink. Once they were drunk he would offer to share a bed with them, or say they could sleep on the floor."

Mr Petrie told detectives he did not know how Beggs managed to have sex with them - but he supposed that was what happened.

Mr Petrie's statement continued: "Ian told me he liked to cruise early morning in an attempt to pick up young guys in his car."

The court was told Mr Petrie made his statement on 21 March last year and died on 23 February this year.