SKIER BANNED FROM INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO ST ANDREWS STUDENT SEX ASSAULT
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A professional skier has been banned from international competition after sexually assaulting a St Andrews University student in the street.
Fraser Baggaley, who has competed with the Fly Ski Racing team, pounced on his 20-year-old victim while she was too drunk to stand up.
The 21-year-old from Edinburgh, who also works as a ski instructor, last month admitted carrying out the sex attack in October 2024 after carrying the woman out of a bar in the town.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard that following his guilty plea he was suspended by sport chiefs and banned from events.
Baggaley brazenly assaulted the woman despite a student welfare officer intervening over concerns about her condition.
Fiscal depute Joanne Ritchie told the court Baggaley and his victim knew each other but had never been in a relationship. The welfare officer spotted Baggaley carrying the woman to an outside area, and stopped them.
Ms Ritchie said: ‘She needed help to stand due to how intoxicated she was. The complainer was putting his hand down the front of her trousers. She [the safety officer] did not believe the woman was able to consent to what was happening.’
The woman later told police officers she had no recollection of events but would not have consented to sexual activity.
When he was interviewed, Baggaley said: ‘I don’t remember doing this as I must have been equally intoxicated.’
Defence counsel Iain McSporran, KC, said: ‘He continues to express disbelief that he behaved in the way he did. He has already suffered adverse consequences. He has devoted himself to a ski career with good prospects of success.
‘He has been suspended and prohibited from attending competitive arenas. His future is unknown. He does not know if he will be allowed to return.’
Sheriff Alasdair Carmichael said: ‘This was a sexual assault which meets the custodial threshold. You have no previous convictions and I also take account of your age.’
Baggaley was placed on the sex offenders register for 12 months and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.
Read more 2026-04-07T20:27:23Z