Latest news with #Stirling
Times
a day ago
- Times
Pastor who groped women to ‘remove demons' jailed for 10 years
A former Stirling University professor who founded a prominent church has been jailed for ten years for sexually abusing two female congregants. Walter Masocha, 61, who led The Agape for All Nations Church in Scotland, was convicted of attempted rape, indecent assault and sexual assault. The High Court in Livingston previously heard testimony detailing Masocha's predatory behaviour, with one married woman recounting how he groped her at his Stirling home, telling her she was a 'gift to him from God'. She testified that Masocha justified putting his hand in her trousers and touching her private parts by claiming he was 'removing demons' and bestowing blessings. Another victim, who was just 20 when the abuse began described how Masocha — seen as a father figure by many in the church — told her: 'God has given you to me to nurture you, look after you and provide for you. He told me to love you in any way you want to be loved. You don't need a boyfriend.' She recounted incidents of him grabbing her face and putting his tongue in her mouth, slapping her bottom and placing her hand on his genitals. She also described an attempted rape in his bedroom from which she managed to escape. Advocate depute Michael McIntosh, for the prosecution, said: 'She was looking for prayer and she found herself being preyed upon. Walter Masocha wasn't just a pastor and a preacher, he was a predator who thought that his power and position rendered him immune from suspicion.' The conviction follows a trial last month in which Masocha, of Bridge of Allan, denied all charges, asserting that both women had fabricated their stories. However, the jury found him guilty of the charges relating to incidents between January 1, 2006, and July 31, 2012, in the Stirling area. Judge Susan Craig condemned Masocha's actions as 'appalling', stating there was no alternative to a lengthy custodial sentence. Upon his eventual release, he will remain under close social work supervision for four years and will be on the sex offenders register for life. Non-harassment orders have also been imposed, barring him from contacting his victims. Masocha, who founded his church in Scotland in 2007 after moving from Zimbabwe, had previously been convicted in 2015 of similar offences, though those convictions were later quashed on appeal. New proceedings were launched after two further women came forward with statements to the police. The Agape for All Nations Church grew under Masocha's leadership into an international organisation with more than 2,000 members. He appointed himself archbishop, reportedly on a salary comparable to the Archbishop of Canterbury's, and maintained a lavish lifestyle, travelling to ministries across the UK, the United States, Canada and various African countries.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Predator pastor who sexually assaulted woman while pretending to ‘exorcise demons' jailed for 10 years
A PREDATOR preacher who sexually assaulted a woman while pretending to 'exorcise demons' has been caged for 10 years. Cult leader Walter Masocha, 61 - called 'The Prophet' by parishioners - was also jailed for a rape bid during a six year reign of sexual terror between 2006 and 2012. 2 The "archbishop" of Stirling-based Agape for All Nations Church told a woman, 58, that God had "given her to him as a gift" and ordered her to kiss his "holy lips". At the High Court in Livingston, judge Susan Craig told Masocha, who watched on via video link from jail, that he had used his front as a preacher to 'callously exploit' his victims. She said: "You are nothing more than an opportunist sexual predator and are guilty of the grossest breach of trust. "The common denominator was the victims worshipped you, a 'prophet' who could work miracles. "You took sexual advantage whenever you felt like doing so." He was jailed for 10 years, given a further four-year extended sentence and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely. A 39-year-old witness said she was 20 when Masocha began sexually abusing her. She told the jury: "He would tell me, 'God said I need to look after you and has given me special love for you in particular'." She said the fiend sexually assaulted her in his home in Bridge of Allan, near Stirling. He also tried to rape her after taking her into his bedroom. Why I married a sexual predator and I want babies with him The Zimbabwean founded his church in 2007. He lived a jetset life visiting ministries across the UK, US, Canada and Africa. He was convicted in 2015 of a sex assault on a woman and sexual activity with a girl of 15. The conviction was later quashed on appeal. Agape's church was also linked to the horrific killing of five-year-old Scott Chirashi in Alva, Clacks in 2014. His mother Farai Chirashi, who had been shunned by the church, stabbed the schoolboy to death and cut his heart out but was found not guilty of murder at the High Court in Glasgow by reason of insanity. When she killed her son, she thought she was on a "mission from God". One ex-church member claimed that Chiriseri was "demonised" by the preacher when she left his church.
Scotsman
a day ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Donald Trump in Scotland: Aberdeen reacts as US President to arrive at Balmedie golf resort
A van displaying a photograph of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein travelled around Aberdeen on Monday. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Aberdeen residents have spoken out about their feelings regarding Donald Trump's visit as he prepares to travel to the north-east. US President Donald Trump has met with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday at his Turnberry course. He will then make the trip to his second golf course in Aberdeenshire where he will meet First Minister John Swinney. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On Saturday, hundreds turned out to Union Terrace Gardens in Aberdeen to protest the arrival of the US President. As the president prepares to head north to his Balmedie golf course, The Scotsman spoke to residents of the Granite City to hear their thoughts on his visit. Jenny Henderson, from Inverurie, said Mr Trump 'isn't welcome' in Scotland. She said: 'I wish he'd stay away. We don't want him. I just think he's a criminal and we don't want any criminals in Scotland.' Jenny Henderson said that the President isn't welcome in Scotland. | Ena Saracevic However, Aberdeen resident William Brown had different thoughts about the president's visit. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Make sure you keep up to date with news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here. He told The Scotsman there was 'good and bad' about Mr Trump, but stressed the US president was 'doing good' for Scotland. 'There's good and bad with the guy,' he said. 'I look at the prospects of Balmedie. The amount of jobs he's put into that place and also down at his other golf courses. William Brown believes there is 'good and bad' with Mr Trump. | Ena Saracevic 'He has definitely brought something to Scotland, whether you love him or loathe him. He's doing good.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ace Kinnaird, from Aberdeen, and Melody Kidd, from Stirling, both said they 'weren't fans' of the US president. Kinnaird said: 'I just don't know why he's here, he doesn't deserve to be here really. He should be in jail.' Last week, First Minister John Swinney announced that £180,000 of public money would be used for the 2025 Nexo Championship at Trump International in Aberdeenshire. Kinnaird added: 'That shouldn't be something we pay for, we should be paying for something that actually matters to our city, not for someone who deserves to be thrown into jail.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ace Kinnaird and Melody Kidd said that Mr Trump 'doesn't deserve' to be in Aberdeen. | Ace and Melody aren't fans of Donald Trump coming to Aberdeen. An advertising van displaying a photograph of Mr Trump with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was driven around Aberdeen on Monday. The action comes amid backlash over the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case. Ross Scott, who was working with the Everyone Hates Elon team for their media, said: 'He [Donald Trump] is a terrible person, isn't he? 'I think the really frustrating thing about him is that you can't ever beat him because he'd never accept it. He's just an abhorrent human being. Ross Scott called Mr Trump an 'abhorrent human being'. | Ena Saracevic 'The more people that get onboard with that, the better.'
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Stirling pastor jailed for 'removing demons' sex attacks
A church pastor who sexually assaulted a female churchgoer under the pretence of "removing demons" from her body has been jailed for 10 Masocha, 61, groped the married woman at his home in Stirling, claiming he was a "gift from god".The University of Stirling professor also attempted to rape another woman during a campaign of abuse from 2006 to denied the attacks during the trial at the High Court in Livingston, but judge Susan Craig described his offending as "appalling". She imposed a non-harassment orders banning him from approaching or contacting his two founded his own church in Scotland in 2007 soon after moving from built Agape for All Nations Church into an international religious organisation with more than 2,000 members and appointed himself as of his victims said most people in the church saw him as a father figure and referred to him as "Dad" or "Daddy". Managed to escape The trial heard Masocha, an accountancy professor, had first targeted another of his victims, now aged 58, about 20 years ago at his home in told the court how Masocha had ordered her to kiss his "holy lips" and attempted to justify putting his hand in her pants and groping her by claiming he was "removing demons" from her body.A 39-year-old woman told how she was 20 when Masocha began sexually abusing her after she went to stay with his said Masocha repeatedly sexually assaulted her during that period by forcing her to touch him and slapping her on the bottom as she walked woman said he later tried to rape her after taking her into his bedroom before managing to escape. Masocha was previously found guilty in June 2015 of sexually assaulting a church deaconess and putting his hand down the trousers of a schoolgirl, telling her that he was trying to remove convictions were later quashed by the appeal court after judges ruled he'd been the victim of a miscarriage of new proceedings were launched by the Crown after two further women made statements to the police about his Craig said it was likely that Mascoha's name would appear on the sex offenders register depute, Michael McIntosh, said: "Walter Masocha wasn't just a pastor and a preacher, he was a predator who thought that his power and position rendered him immune from suspicion."
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Dunfermline Athletic v Stirling Albion
Update: Date: 90'+5 Title: Post Content: Match ends, Dunfermline Athletic 2, Stirling Albion 0. Update: Date: 90'+5 Title: Full Time Content: Second Half ends, Dunfermline Athletic 2, Stirling Albion 0. Update: Date: 90'+4 Title: Post Content: Goal! Dunfermline Athletic 2, Stirling Albion 0. Rory Macleod (Dunfermline Athletic) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner. Update: Date: 90'+3 Title: Post Content: Penalty Dunfermline Athletic. Chris Hamilton draws a foul in the penalty area. Update: Date: 90'+3 Title: Post Content: Penalty conceded by Callum Crane (Stirling Albion) after a foul in the penalty area. Update: Date: 90'+1 Title: Post Content: Corner,Dunfermline Athletic. Conceded by Kyle Banner. Update: Date: 90'+1 Title: Post Content: Keith Bray (Dunfermline Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Update: Date: 90'+1 Title: Post Content: Foul by Ross Cunningham (Stirling Albion). Update: Date: 90' Title: Post Content: Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time. Update: Date: 86' Title: Booking Content: Callum Crane (Stirling Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Update: Date: 86' Title: Post Content: Kane Ritchie-Hosler (Dunfermline Athletic) wins a free kick on the right wing. Update: Date: 86' Title: Post Content: Foul by Callum Crane (Stirling Albion). Update: Date: 85' Title: Booking Content: Kane Thomson (Stirling Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Update: Date: 85' Title: Post Content: Kieran Ngwenya (Dunfermline Athletic) wins a free kick on the left wing. Update: Date: 85' Title: Post Content: Foul by Kane Thomson (Stirling Albion). Update: Date: 84' Title: Post Content: Attempt missed. Kane Ritchie-Hosler (Dunfermline Athletic) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Update: Date: 82' Title: Substitution Content: Substitution, Dunfermline Athletic. Kieran Ngwenya replaces Ewan Otoo. Update: Date: 82' Title: Substitution Content: Substitution, Dunfermline Athletic. Chris Hamilton replaces Connor Young. Update: Date: 80' Title: Booking Content: Kyle Banner (Stirling Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Update: Date: 80' Title: Post Content: John Tod (Dunfermline Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
