Scientist who sexually assaulted client of his artificial insemination service spared jail
Gennadij Raivich - Credit: Archant
A former academic who claims to have fathered 58 children with his “one-stop shop” artificial insemination service has been spared jail after sexually assaulting one of his clients.
Former University College London (UCL) professor Gennadij Raivich, 52, ran a “breeding programme” for women desperate to have children.
The married scientist, of Thanet Street, King’s Cross, trawled for would-be mothers on online sperm donor forums.
Using the pseudonym Frank Qualman, he travelled the country with his “donation kit” containing pipettes and syringes and offered his services free.
On Tuesday, he received a nine-month suspended jail term at Blackfriars Crown Court for two counts of sexual assault, following his conviction in July.
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The 29-year-old victim had sought his help to conceive – only to be groped during a “consultation” in November 2012.
She said she had to give him oral sex repeatedly to get a sperm sample, a method he called “artificial insemination plus”, but she did not consent to being touched.
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Raivich discussed “artificial insemination plus” at his first meeting with the woman in September 2012.
“Needless to say, this wasn’t a medically recognised or accepted procedure,” said Judge Deva Pillay during sentencing.
“You made it plain to her that if she did not provide ‘AI plus’, she would not receive a donation of sperm and consequently she told the jury that she therefore agreed to do so.
“She also told the jury that she made it plain to you that, although she was prepared to sexually stimulate you in order to provide a sperm donation, she did not want you to touch her sexually.”
Raivich was arrested at UCL in Bloomsbury. Having lost his job, he plans to return to his wife and family in Germany.
He had faced 10 sexual assault charges but the jury failed to reach verdicts on eight counts and the Crown Prosecution Service did not seek a retrial.
He has been placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and banned from posting on sperm donor websites. He was also ordered to pay £5,000 costs.
n Police said there may have been further victims and urged any to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
