DUNDEE UNITED GROUNDSMAN GUILTY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AT TANNADICE
The stadium manager of Dundee United has acknowledged that he sexually assaulted a woman inside Tannadice Stadium.During proceedings at Dundee’s sheriff court, it was revealed that Albert Dawson, aged 49 and residing on Victoria Street in Forfar, received a warning from the club following the 2011 incident and was permitted to continue his employment.
At the beginning of the previous football season, he made a comment to the woman that caused her discomfort, prompting her to contact the police.
She stated, “Everyone said I was making it up, but now it’s been proven that I was telling the truth.” The assault occurred between February 1 and April 30, 2011.
The woman, who was employed by the club, testified that Dawson approached her from behind and asked, “What are you doing?” He then placed his arms around her, pulling her close.
Deputy Fiscal Eilidh Robertson stated that Dawson touched her breasts over her clothing and briefly placed his hands between her legs.
The woman fled the stand and spoke to a groundskeeper nearby, who observed that she was distressed.
She went home upset and crying, sharing her experience with her partner.
She had reported the matter to her line manager but initially chose not to involve the police.
Subsequently, club management confronted Dawson, who admitted to his behavior.
Despite this, he was given only a formal warning and allowed to remain employed.
The court heard that Dawson did not contact her for some time, but at the start of the recent football season, he made another comment that made her uncomfortable, leading her to report the assault to authorities.
She became hysterical while recounting the incident to officers and took sick leave the following week.
Police interviewed Dawson, who admitted, “I hold my hands up to that, I was fooling about with the girl, and I went too far.” Dawson pleaded guilty to the sexual assault.
Sheriff Tom Hughes delayed sentencing until November 20 to allow for social work reports and ordered his name to be entered on the sex offenders register.
The woman expressed relief, stating, “These past two years have been a nightmare...
I now regret not reporting it sooner.
Now I can move forward.
It’s different now; women don’t have to accept this behavior.” A Dundee United spokesperson declined to comment on whether Dawson remains employed by the club.
Dawson has been responsible for pitch maintenance at Tannadice since 2000 and was the first recipient of the Scottish Groundsman of the Year award from the Institute of Groundsmanship.
His work earned him the SPL award and the overall national prize, and his pitch was runner-up for best in 2008 behind Celtic’s John Hayes.
