ANGUS DAVIES FROM DORNOCH SENTENCED FOR GROOMING A 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN DORNOCH

In September 2017, a serious case involving an elderly man from Dornoch came to light, revealing disturbing behavior aimed at a young girl in the community. Angus Davies, aged 73 and residing on Camore Crescent, was found to have engaged in a troubling pattern of attempting to establish a personal and inappropriate connection with a 13-year-old girl over a span of four months, from September 1 to December 31 of the previous year.

During this period, Davies made deliberate efforts to contact the young girl both when she was out in the town of Dornoch and at the local play park, where children and families frequently gather. His actions included giving her money and various gifts, among which was a love poem by Robert Burns, a renowned Scottish poet, and a heart-shaped paperweight. These gestures, seemingly romantic in nature, raised alarm among those aware of the situation, especially after the girl confided in her family about receiving the love poem.

Davies, who lives alone and has been described as suffering from grief over the recent death of his brother, appeared before Tain Sheriff Court to face sentencing. He had previously admitted to charges of behaving in a disorderly manner and causing the girl to feel fear or alarm, both at a local address and in other locations within the community.

The court proceedings revealed that Davies’ actions were motivated, at least in part, by his emotional state following his brother’s passing. His legal representative, Alison Foggo, explained that a social worker had prepared a background report on Davies, recommending a structured deferred sentence as a means to help him address underlying issues. Ms. Foggo emphasized that Davies struggles to recognize the harm caused by his behavior but is also deeply remorseful for the concern he has caused.

She further explained that Davies, a single man, has been unable to adjust fully to living alone after the loss of his brother, which has led to ongoing feelings of loneliness and unresolved grief. The social worker involved in his case believed that a period of supervision, including counseling for bereavement and behavioral issues, could be beneficial in preventing future incidents.

In response, Sheriff Chris Dickson agreed with the recommendations and imposed a structured deferred sentence on Davies. The conditions included his participation in an offender awareness program and bereavement counseling. The sheriff also expressed a desire to assess Davies’ fitness to undertake unpaid community work, requesting a letter from his general practitioner before the next court date, scheduled for January 22.

Additionally, Sheriff Dickson issued a strict order banning Davies from having any contact with children under the age of 16 unless explicitly authorized by social services, aiming to protect other minors from potential harm. The case highlights the importance of community vigilance and the legal system’s response to safeguarding vulnerable individuals from predatory behavior.