A man was found guilty after trial of attempting to kiss a care worker who visited his home to look after his ill son.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how John Donnelly, 55, of Rona Court, Perth, asked Laura Joyce, 24, if she wanted a glass of wine when she arrived at the house around 10.30pm and then twice put on a pornography TV channel in his living-room.
Ms Joyce said this was the first time she had gone to see Mr Donnelly’s son. She described how Donnelly poured her a glass of wine despite her stressing she didn’t want one.
The care worker also claimed the accused later “grabbed” her across the shoulder and attempted to kiss her as the pair made their way to see the boy.
“I pushed him away and told him I wasn’t there for that,” she said.
“He then grabbed me around the back and said to me ‘show me how okay you are.’ I then went into the living-room but the accused again put a porn channel on his TV.”
Ms Joyce said she told Donnelly she had to get something from her car and left the scene.
The court heard that she reported the incident to her supervisor and then the police were made aware of it.
Detective Sergeant Alan Wilkie, 39, told the court how he and a colleague later visited Donnelly about the matter when the accused told them “it was a drunken mistake” on their way to the police car.
Giving evidence, Donnelly told the court he always asked visitors to his house if they wanted an alcoholic drink and also claimed he only touched Ms Joyce’s shoulder as he showed her the way to his son’s bedroom, so she could attend to him.
And Donnelly also claimed he “pressed the wrong button” when the pornography TV channel came on.
Donnelly had denied the charge, which took place at his house on May 25.
Sentencing Donnelly, Sheriff Michael Fletcher found him guilty and said: “I am satisfied with the Crown’s case and the evidence given by Ms Joyce. This was corroborated by you when you told police ‘it was a drunken mistake.’”
Sheriff Fletcher deferred sentence until October 19 for background reports and will also decide the length of time Donnelly will be placed on the sex offenders’ register then.
