Brian MacKinnon has pleaded guilty to attempted extortion after hiding inside the Glasgow home of his former university professor for nine hours before entering the bedroom and threatening to kill him and his wife.
MacKinnon, 63, targeted Professor Brian Whiting, 87, and his wife Marlene, 83, after comments about him were broadcast in a BBC Scotland screening of a dramatised documentary about his notorious school hoax.
The High Court in Glasgow heard that MacKinnon, wearing a mask, grey cap and dark clothing, entered the couple’s bedroom at about 1.30am and demanded that they issue statements claiming there had been a conspiracy to prevent him studying medicine.
Prosecutor Eilidh Robertson said Mrs Whiting sat up, prompting MacKinnon to tell her to lie down or he would “really hurt her”. He then asked her husband whether he was Brian Whiting.
MacKinnon placed two typed envelopes on the bed and told the couple that they and their families would be killed if they did not comply and involve the media, the court was told.
He allegedly blamed Professor Whiting and two colleagues for ruining his life and claimed they were responsible for the death of his parents. He also said he had people monitoring the couple and warned that they would be killed if they failed to follow his instructions.
The statements had been made to appear as though they were written by Professor Whiting. They alleged that he had falsely claimed MacKinnon failed to meet the required standard as a medical student and referred to a conspiracy to exclude “incandescently bright” students.
Mrs Whiting eventually led MacKinnon downstairs after he asked to leave. She was able to see his face when he removed his mask, and later identified him from an online photograph shown to her by her son.
MacKinnon was arrested after returning to his home in Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire. Police found a mobile phone, three notepads and an envelope containing a statement similar to those left at the Whitings’ home.
The raid followed the BBC Scotland broadcast of My Old School, a 2022 docu-drama in which actor Alan Cumming played MacKinnon. The film reused comments Professor Whiting had made in a 1995 interview after MacKinnon’s deception was exposed.
MacKinnon had left Bearsden Academy in 1980 to study medicine at the University of Glasgow but was asked to leave after failing his examinations twice. In 1993, aged 30, he returned to the school posing as a 16-year-old Canadian pupil named Brandon Lee.
He was taught by some of his former teachers, retook his Higher examinations and secured a place at Dundee University to study medicine. His true identity was exposed in 1995 and the university expelled him.
Professor Whiting, then dean of Glasgow University’s medical school, had said MacKinnon was given every possible chance to succeed, including a second-year resit, which he failed to complete successfully.
In court, Mrs Whiting described the home invasion as “absolutely out of the blue” and “terrifying”. Professor Whiting said he had not heard from MacKinnon in the 30 years since the school hoax was exposed.
MacKinnon pleaded guilty to attempted extortion. The Crown accepted not guilty pleas to five other charges, including possession of two push daggers and an unlicensed stun gun, and a breach of the peace.
Judge Lady Anwar told him: “You subjected Mr and Mrs Whiting, both in their 80s, to a shocking and terrifying ordeal in their home. It is likely you will face a significant custodial sentence.”
MacKinnon, who was brought to court in a wheelchair, is being held on remand at Barlinnie prison in Glasgow. Sentencing was deferred for reports.
