A man caused “extreme distress” to a woman in a busy pub by fondling her and saying he could make her breasts ‘levitate’.
Nicol McLaren, of Blairgowrie, appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court to admit sexually touching the woman on January 28
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the 64-year-old was introduced to the woman by two people he knew in the pub after finishing compering at an event elsewhere in the town in Shetland.
After getting talking, he was standing in front of the woman and said he could do a magic trick to make “boobs levitate”.
Mackenzie said McLaren then groped her breasts and lifted them up – leaving the woman “extremely shocked”.
Feeling degraded, she “laughed it off” at the time but then went to the toilets with a friend and “broke down”, the court heard.
“She felt that she was completely violated,” Mr Mackenzie said, adding the woman then left by another exit and was picked up to go home.
The court heard the woman sought support from local services and then reported the incident to the police.
McLaren initially denied the incident happened.
Sheriff David Harvie adjourned the case until July 2 to allow for the preparation of a social work report, with McLaren ordered to arrange notification requirements under the sex offenders register.
His defence is due to speak in mitigation at the next hearing.
Attempted murder
A repeat criminal has been found guilty of slashing a rival’s throat in a murder bid in Arbroath. Steven Clarke, 42, used a blade attached to a multitool to inflict a 10cm wound across David West’s neck close to a main artery during the attack.
Threw beggar to ground
An Perth man has been fined after throwing a one-legged beggar from his wheelchair.
Andrew Robertson appeared at Perth Sheriff Court to be sentenced for attacking David Phillips outside the Tulloch Co-op on October 24 last year.
Prosecutor Andrew Harding explained Mr Phillips had been sitting in his chair outside the shop shortly before 11am, asking passers-by to buy him cigarettes.
“There was a heated exchange of words,” he said.
Robertson admitted he then seized Mr Phillips by the clothing, pulled him from his wheelchair and threw him to the ground, removed his hat from his head and then repeatedly attempted to pull him from his wheelchair.
After Mr Phillips got back in his chair, he asked another person to contact police.
Defence solicitor Lyndsey Barber explained her client’s wife worked in the shop from which Mr Phillips was banned for years and when Robertson refused to buy the beggar cigarettes, he responded with a remark about the attacker’s wife.
She said: “He behaved extremely poorly, that is something we can’t get away from.
“He accepts the red mist descended. He let himself down.
“He’s apologised for his behaviour. It is an extremely repugnant set of circumstances.”
The 63-year-old, of Nimmo Place in Perth, attended court on crutches and was fined £420 altogether by Sheriff Clair McLachlan.
She said: “I’ve taken on board that you’ve shown remorse. It does appear to be out of character for you.”
‘Dangerous Dave’
A notorious Perth paedophile who referred to himself as Dangerous Dave has been handed a nine year extended sentence for grooming a schoolboy on the other side of the world. Serial sex offender David Greig sent explicit selfies to his 13-year-old victim using the Telegram social media app.
Jailed for punch
The brother of former Raith Rovers star Peter Hetherston has been jailed for almost four years after leaving a man badly hurt with a single punch.
Trained boxer Martin Hetherston set upon Charles Houston, who was selling cigarettes and a dashcam in the Joker Bar in Bellshill, Lanarkshire on July 2 2022.
The victim was knocked unconscious by the 57 year-old, suffering a brain injury and fractured jaw.
First-offender Hetherston – described by his lawyer as effectively a pillar of his local community for his 40 years involved in boxing and coaching of the sport – was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.
He had last month been joined in the dock by ex-Raith and Aberdeen midfielder Peter, 60, as well as 31 year-old Lauren McGowan.
They had all faced a charge of attempting to murder Mr Houston.
The ex-footballer and Miss McGowan walked free after Hetherston pled guilty to assaulting the man to his severe injury, permanent impairment and disfigurement as well as to the danger of his life.
Lord Colbeck locked him for three years and seven months.
The hearing was told Mr Houston was initially unconscious for seven minutes but came to and managed to walk away from the pub, before he was found but was found stricken again by paramedics outside a nearby property.
He had a “life-threatening” blood clot on the brain and would have died without surgery, Prosecutor Liam Ewing KC said.
Hetherston, of Coatbridge, admitted assault.
The court heard a total of 21 testimonials had been given to Lord Colbeck to read.
Graham Roberston, defending, said: “In the cross-sections of references, there is a tremendous groundswell for Mr Hetherston from clergy members, business personnel, people who have known him for decades.
“He presents as a man who is a very positive role model for many people.”
Sentencing, the judge stated Mr Houston and his friend appeared to have been “lured” to the beer garden in what seemed a “pre-planned confrontation”.
Lord Colbeck said: “It is clear, however impulsive your behaviour may have been, you failed in the most terrible way to live up to the standards, I am told, you attempted to instil in others.”
Care worker rape guilt
A Perthshire care worker is facing a lengthy jail term after for an 18-month campaign of abuse against a woman, including raping her. The High Court at Stirling heard Taylor Whyte, 21, had abused the woman at his home and at an address in Angus.
Abusive ex
An abusive ex who left “disgusting” late night voicemails on his former partner’s phone has been jailed for six months.
Window fitter Grant Stainer admitted breaching terms of a non-harassment order for a third time when he appeared at Perth Sheriff Court in March.
The 52-year-old was previously jailed after making similarly unwanted calls to the same woman in March last year and in July 2023.
Stainer, of Moulin Crescent, Perth, admitted breaching a year-long non-harassment order by calling his ex and leaving voicemails in September last year described by prosecutors as “lewd, obnoxious, offensive and threatening in nature”.
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