A child sex predator who molested teenagers at his Perth home over the course of more than a year has been jailed.
Victims and family members hugged and broke down in tears as charity worker Ryan Kinnear was led away to begin a 30-month sentence.
One woman shouted after him: “Enjoy your own mental torture.”
Kinnear, 35, preyed on three schoolgirls aged 13, 15 and 18.
Perth Sheriff Court heard he watched Marvel movies with them and attempted to teach them sex education.
He used a massage gun on one victim and targeted another while she slept.
Kinnear, of Mull Place, denied the charges, claiming his victims were lying to the court.
He returned to court for sentencing, having been found guilty by a jury of what a sheriff described “appalling offences” following a trial last month.
Lifelong impact
Sheriff Jennifer Bain KC told Kinnear: “Each complainer was vulnerable and you used your position of trust for your own sexual gratification.
“I note that you maintain your denial, at least to the extent that you say you don’t remember anything like that happening.”
She said one of his victims regularly “sought refuge” at his house.
“Your predatory behaviour has had a very significant and potentially lifelong impact on each one of your victims,” the sheriff said.
“I take into account a psychological assessment which highlights trauma from your past and that at the age of 35 you are a first offender.”
She noted he was also assessed as at “low or moderate risk” of reoffending.
“The abuse you perpetrated was serious and against those who should have been safe in your care,” Sheriff Bain said.
“Given the nature and number of the charges and the ages of the complainers, I am satisfied there is no other way of dealing with you other than a custodial sentence.”
Kinnear was jailed for 30 months and has been put on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Victim told teacher after lesson
Last month’s trial was halted when Kinnear, who worked for a Perth clothing charity, broke down while giving evidence.
As his solicitor David Holmes read out the allegations against him, Kinnear wept and said “Please, don’t.”
Mr Holmes, in mitigation on Monday, said: “Mr Kinnear’s position has remained unchanged throughout the trial.
“He is someone who has never been in trouble before, has no outstanding matters and there have been no other instances since this case was brought before the court.”
He added: “He has been very anxious about proceedings.
“During the trial, he did not challenge the witnesses but simply said: ‘I didn’t do it’.”
Jurors heard how he was seen as a confidant to his victims.
He abused two of them while giving them massages, the court heard, convincing one girl – stressed about her exams – to remove her tights.
She went “stony-faced” when he used a massage device on her private parts.
The court also heard how his eldest victim came to speak to him, upset about a close family member being in hospital.
The teenager fell asleep on Kinnear’s couch but woke to see he had placed his hand on his penis.
She froze, then rolled off the couch and went into the bathroom.
There, she sent a Snapchat message to a friend telling her what had happened.
The court heard how a police investigation was launched when one of Kinnear’s victims spoke to a teacher after learning about sexual abuse in a Personal and Social Education (PSE) class.
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