Scotland rugby star Patrick Dewhirst filmed sex act with woman in hotel – then posted the footage online for the rest of the squad to watch
A SCOTLAND rugby star recorded himself performing a sex act on a woman in an Edinburgh hotel - then posted the footage online for the rest of the squad to watch.
Patrick Dewhirst filmed himself penetrating the woman without her knowledge at a Holiday Inn in the Corstorphine area of the capital.
The Scotland U20 prospect - known as Paddy - then distributed the sexual images to a WhatsApp group containing 28 members of the Scotland rugby squad.
The incident took place the day before Dewhirst and his young Scotland teammates headed out to France to compete in last year’s World Rugby U20 Championship.
Dewhirst’s promising career as a Scottish Rugby modern apprentice is now in ruins after he was placed on the sex offenders register during an appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
The 21-year-old fly half, who plays for Ayr RFC, had previously pleaded guilty to recording himself digitally penetrating the woman without her knowledge or consent on May 23 last year.
He also admitted distributing the images to a WhatsApp group containing 28 members from an address in Ayr between May 23 and September 8 last year.
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Sheriff Peter McCormack told the disgraced sportsman his actions had been “complete idiocy” and had been for “cheap laughs with your teammates”.
The sheriff said: “You are a rugby player who had the ability and good fortune to be selected for the Scotland U-20 team in the World Cup over in France last year.
“On the eve of the squad’s departure you and a female ended up in your room and sexual activity took place which should have been no-one’s business but yours and hers.
“But without her knowledge or consent and while she was lying prone you made a video of the sexual conduct on your phone and then posted it to all 28 members of the squad on WhatsApp.”
Dewhirst, from Mauchline, Ayrshire, was told he would be on the sex offenders register for the next five years.
He was also ordered to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work in the community over the next six months and placed on a restriction of liberty order meaning he must stay within his home between 8pm and 6am for the next 120 days.
Sheriff McCormack added: “This could well ruin your sporting career and we can only hope this young woman recovers from her ordeal.”
Defending solicitor Peter Lockhart told the court Dewhirst had been offered a professional contract with team in Lyon, France, but that move is now on hold due to his conviction.
This could well ruin your sporting career
Sheriff McCormack
Mr Lockhart said his client was “a very gifted and dedicated player” and had been suspended by the SRU following the revelations.
Previously the court heard Dewhirst and the woman knew each other and she attended at his room at the Holiday Inn at around 7.30pm on May 23 last year.
The pair were involved in consensual sexual activity in the room but Dewhirst began filming their encounter without the woman’s knowledge.
The rugby star then showed the footage to a pal before uploading the images to the Scotland U-20 WhatsApp group for his the whole squad to view.
The woman, who cannot be identified due to legal reasons, then became aware the footage existed and had been shared among the men and called in the police to investigate.
Following the incident, Dewhirst attempted to contact the woman but she refused to speak to him or accept any apology.
Dewhirst first came to prominence playing for local side Cumnock before moving to the current Scottish Premiership champions Ayr RFC.
The popular centre was voted the 2nd XV’s Players’ Player of the Year in 2016 and soon gained international honours by playing for Scotland at U19 and U20 level.
Dewhirst started both games for Scotland against Wales and France during the junior version of the Six Nations competition last year.
Playing at full back Dewhirst then starred for his country at the World Rugby U20 Championship 2018 held in France where he scored a try in a last minute defeat to Italy.
A spokesperson for Scottish Rugby said: “Scottish Rugby was aware of the incident that took place last year.
“We took it extremely seriously and undertook immediate action in collaboration with Police Scotland.
"The case was passed onto Police Scotland for investigation, which we fully supported.”
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