JAMES BERRY, FORMER SCOTLAND HEADTEACHER, CONVICTED OF ABUSING WOMEN IN RENFREWSHIRE AND BEYOND
A headteacher extradited from Spain has been found guilty of committing horrific sexual offenses in Renfrewshire.James Berry, 77, described as a vile rapist, targeted two women over a span of more than twenty years.
The assaults occurred in Renfrew and Houston, as well as at residences in Govan and Crookston, mainly between 1963 and 1987.
Berry, who was the owner and headteacher of the private British school King Richard III College in Mallorca, had lived there for 30 years before being extradited back to Scotland in 2019 to stand trial.
He has now been sentenced to prison after being convicted at the High Court in Glasgow on five charges, including the rape of both women.
It was also alleged that Berry had been abusive in Spain and Canada.
One of the victims, the older of the two, previously confided in a priest about her suffering.
Berry denied the allegations, claiming it was "rubbish" that he had used "controlling" behavior towards the woman.
During court proceedings, he stated: "I was not a dictator." Prosecutors described the victim’s experiences of violence at Berry’s hands, including sexual assault, punching, and being grabbed by the throat.
The second woman recalled being abused at Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel and during a driving lesson.
When questioned by his lawyer Claire Mitchell about these claims, Berry stated: "She was never abused, I can assure you." Miss Mitchell challenged him, saying: "It is said you ordered her to do things, she was compliant and scared of you, that she did your bidding sexually." Berry denied these allegations, asserting: "I have been teaching for 50 years and I have a perfect record." Prosecutor Kath Harper later suggested that, if Berry’s claims of innocence were true, he was the target of "horrific allegations." He responded: "Yes." During the trial, Berry spoke of having a friendship with a former Rangers football player and claimed that accusations against him had been part of a "criminal conspiracy" aimed at taking control of his school.
Following the verdict, Miss Harper explained to the jury that Berry had been extradited to Scotland on a European Arrest Warrant.
At the time of his arrest, he was living near a golf course in Santa Ponsa, Mallorca, with his wife and three young children.
Judge Thomas Welsh QC postponed sentencing until February 28 to allow for background reports.
He told Berry: "I am not prepared to continue bail, so you will be remanded in custody in the meantime." During the trial, Berry was accompanied by a woman who works with him at the Spanish school.
He waved to her as he was taken to the cells.
