A predatory creep who menaced a Tayside lawyer in an A9 layby has “narrowly” avoided jail.
Craig Denim tried to force himself on the solicitor after tailing her for several miles, telling her: “I pulled you over ‘cos you’re tidy.”
The terrified woman fought off the 22-year-old when he tried to kiss her.
When she accelerated away, she spotted him following in the rear view mirror.
Denim appeared at Perth Sheriff Court for sentencing, having previously admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, causing his victim fear and alarm on November 17, 2020.
The court heard issues of “victim blaming” and “predatory concerns” were raised in a social work report prepared on Denim’s behalf.
Fright of her life
The telecom engineer’s own lawyer said coming to court had given his client a scare.
Sheriff Rory Bannerman told Denim: “Your solicitor indicates that this matter has given you the fright of your life.
“But I have little doubt the complainer in this case received the fright of her life.”
He said: “These are very concerning matters.
“While custody is clearly an option, I take into account you have no previous convictions.
“I am narrowly persuaded that this can be dealt with by way of a community-based disposal.”
Denim, of Pladda Terrace, Irvine, was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and placed on supervision for two years.
He must take part in Moving Forward: Making Changes, an intense treatment programme for sex offenders.
‘Can I give you a snog?’
Fiscal depute Catherine Fraser told the court the solicitor noticed Denim’s grey Renault Megane at around 6.30pm as she drove south along the A90 Perth to Dundee road.
Denim overtook her, then deliberately slowed down about four or five times, said Ms Fraser.
When the lawyer overtook the car she saw it flashing its lights in her rear-view mirror.
“She thought this was strange and thought there was perhaps something wrong with her car,” said Ms Fraser.
Denim indicated left, as if advising the woman to pull over.
When she stopped at a layby on the A9, past the Broxden Roundabout, she noticed the Megane pulling in behind her.
Denim walked up to her vehicle and pulled open the driver’s door.
He said: “I pulled you over ‘cos you’re tidy.”
Ms Fraser said: “The complainer did not know how to respond to this.”
He asked her age, then asked for a kiss saying: “Can I give you a snog?”
“She told him no,” the fiscal depute said.
The court heard the solicitor, fearing for her own safety, had to bluff her way out of the situation by pretending to give Denim her phone number.
Sped away from the scene
Ms Fraser said: “He leaned into the vehicle as if to give her a kiss but she was able to lean away from him.
“She put her hand up to create some distance between them.”
Ms Fraser said: “The accused then took out his mobile phone to put in her number.
“At this point, the complainer took the opportunity to push him out of the car and pull the door closed.
“She then reversed and sped off to get away from him.
“However, she was soon aware he had caught up with her and was tailgating her.
“The complainer was extremely frightened for her safety because of the way he was acting.”
Denim’s solicitor told the court: “It’s fair to say he now fully understands the concerns he would have instilled in the complainer.”
He said that this had been an “isolated incident” and noted part of the social work report which stated: “He is someone who struggles to read social situations.”
The court heard he is still employed but is now separated from his partner.
