Image copyright Spindrift Image caption Brian Johnstone was a prison officer for 30 years

A prison officer who sexually assaulted two inmates at HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow has been jailed for three years. Brian Johnstone has been sentenced to three years in prison after preying on the men during their time inside and repeatedly attacking them in their cells. The victims, 26, and 35, recalled how Johnstone would come into their cell, often before they were awake, and touch them inappropriately. Both men were also subjected to at least one assault in the shower by the 60-year-old. Johnstone, from Greenock, Inverclyde, denied the charges but was convicted of sexually assaulting his first victim between December 2013 and March 2014 and the second from March to August 2016. Today sheriff Joseph Platt jailed Johnstone for three years and put him on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. Sheriff Joseph Platt told him: "You betrayed the trust of the prison service and your fellow employees." Image copyright PA Image caption The assaults happened at Barlinnie Prison in Glasgow

The younger of the two inmates, who was Johnstone's first victim, described a time when he assaulted him while he lay in bed, ill with food poisoning. The 35-year-old victim, who was on remand at the time of the attacks and subsequently acquitted of the charge he faced, described the first incident of sexual assault when Johnstone came into his cell and "lunged" at him. He described the first incident of sexual assault when Johnstone came into his cell and “lunged” and touched him between his legs, over his boxer shorts. The man told the jury that Johnstone would come into his cell, before he was awake and touch him. The court also heard of one incident when he was assaulted by Johnstone in the shower area. Johnstone claimed to have vague memories of the men and denied any sexual contact. Defence counsel John Scullion QC said Johnstone is a family man and has worked throughout his adult life. Johnstone resigned from the prison service when he was convicted and still maintains his innocence.
Glasgow Sheriff Court sentences HMP Barlinnie prison officer Brian Johnstone to three years imprisonment for repeatedly sexually assaulting two inmates in the showers and their cells between 2013 and 2016.