A west Fife martial arts instructor who sexually assaulted four vulnerable teenagers over a 17-year period has been jailed.
Gary Lee Goodrum was ordered to spend nine years behind bars and placed on the sex offenders register for life at Aberdeen High Court yesterday.
The 38-year-old groomed the youngsters, who were aged between 13 and 16, at the Gary Lee Martial Arts Academy in Dalgety Bay.
He also abused his victims in Hillend and Rosyth where he would flatter and coerce them into committing sexual acts between 1999 and 2007.
The sexual predator, who originally denied 10 charges, was quizzed by investigators after a brave 14-year-old martial arts student spoke out against him last year.
She accused Goodrum of sexually assaulting her by backing her up against a wall and grabbing her breasts.
The teacher, who lived in Perth, was cleared of rape after the Crown withdrew the charge.
But a jury at Livingston High Court found him guilty of sexually abusing the 14-year-old and seven other charges of using lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour.
Goodrum sobbed as he was lead from the dock by G4S officers in March.
A ninth charge of indecent assault was not proven while allegations he sexually abused a teenager with nunchucks and performed oral sex on another were deleted.
Detective Inspector June Peebles, of Fife Division’s public protection unit yesterday hailed the victims’ bravery in coming forward.
She said: “I want to commend the victims in this case for their bravery and continued cooperation throughout the investigation.
“Goodrum took advantage of a position of trust to abuse children and, thanks to the courage of the victims, he is unable to exploit this position again.
“I urge anyone who has concerns about the welfare of a child or the behaviour of an adult to contact us through 101 or report these concerns anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
