Exclusive:Man accused of sexually assaulting male and female victims on the Caledonian Sleeper
Ryan Hock is accused of sexually assaulting five men and women over the course of five years during journeys on the Caledonian Sleeper
A man is to stand trial for multiple sexual assaults of five victims during journeys on the Caledonian Sleeper.
Ryan Hock is accused of sexually assaulting and making sexual remarks towards three men and two women.
Over five years, Hock, who pleads not guilty on all counts, is alleged to have repeatedly groped both male and female victims.
A trial, expected to last for seven days, was due to start on Monday at Glasgow Sheriff Court but was postponed until November.
The charges against Hock, from Dumbarton, in relation to the first victim, allege that between January 1, 2019, and September 30, 2024, he repeatedly touched the man on the thigh.
This is said to have happened during a train journey from Glasgow Central to London Euston.
Between the same dates, Hock is accused of making sexual remarks towards the man.
Then, between August 1, 2019, and August 19, 2024, he is alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman.
At Glasgow Central station and on train journeys between there and London Euston, Hock is accused of seizing her breasts, pinning her against a wall and touching her breasts.
The allegations go on to say Hock pressed his body against hers, seized her on the buttocks, touched her on the thighs and made sexualised noises while touching her.
In relation to the same woman and between the same dates, Hock is also said to have made sexual remarks to her.
Between September 1, 2019, and June 30, 2024, Hock is accused of sexually assaulting a second man on rail journeys between Glasgow Central and London Euston.
The 41-year-old is said to have entered a locked room, repeatedly placed his hands under the man’s trousers, repeatedly touched his genitals over his underwear, repeatedly touch his genitals over his trousers, pushed him onto a table, straddled him and seized his genitals over his trousers.
During those same dates on the same rail route, Hock is alleged to have repeatedly uttered sexual remarks to the man.
In the case of a second woman victim, Hock is alleged to have again repeatedly uttered sexual remarks to her between December 1, 2022, and September 30, 2024.
This occurred, it is alleged, on train journeys between Glasgow Central and London Euston.
He is said to have also, at London Euston station and between there and Kirkandrews, have repeatedly touched this woman on the breast and grabbed her buttocks.
Hock is also alleged to have assaulted a third man by grabbing his genitals over his clothing, grabbing his buttocks and pinning him against a chair.
This is said to have happened between July 1, 2023 and August 30, 2024, during train journeys between Glasgow Central and London Euston.
Sheriff Kelly heard that Hock, who pleads not guilty on all counts, had struggled to obtain legal aid.
His lawyer told the court that financial support had been granted late on Friday and he had not had time to prepare.
The defence brief said: “That is very unsatisfactory indeed and I offer my apologies to the court.
“I ask for the court’s indulgence in one last continuation.”