St Andrews student made acid threat

Ban: Joshua Paik suspended and six others disciplined for online bullying

A St Andrews student has been suspended over an acid attack threat he posted online.

St Andrews University has banned maths student Joshua Paik, 20, for a year and disciplined six others for online bullying.

Paik posted on Facebook: “You should throw battery acid in her face, Indian rejected marriage style.”

Two girls were targeted by taunts made by Paik and his friends.

Those who joined the online chat were told to apologise in writing and complete an anti-bullying course.

Police Scotland said no crime was committed and the university was left to deal with the matter.

But one of the victims told the Sunday Mail that the threats left her scared to go out.

“I barely went out after I heard about this,” she said.

“I had to buy locks for me and my friend’s bedrooms.

“And we signed an early lease so we could move out into a new flat.

“It was pretty terrifying to know that somebody could easily come into the flat – and they were encouraged to as well.”

Paik reportedly asked a former flatmate of one of the victims, who still had a key to the flat: “Why would you leave the flat when you can destroy their life there?” He added: “I could ruin their lives.” The comments were made during a private chat which one of the victims was later alerted to.

She told the newspaper: “I feel let down. I think if any of this was said in public, the police would have taken it a lot more seriously.”

A spokesman for St Andrews University said: “We cannot comment on individual cases, but all students are fully aware of the standards of behaviour expected of them.

“The university has a zero-tolerance policy on bullying in any shape or form and has rigorous procedures in place to deal with any complaints.

“Any cases of reported abuse are followed up and a small number of students have been disciplined at the highest levels for such matters in the last five years.”

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “Inquiries were carried out and no crime was found to have been committed.”

arobertson@thecourier.co.uk

“I barely went out after I heard about this. I had to buy locks. VICTIM

Picture: PA. Police Scotland said no crime was committed and St Andrews University was left to deal with the matter.