FORMER BURGHEAD PUB BOSS CONVICTED OF MOLESTING GIRLS
A former Burghead pub boss has been convicted of molesting girls following a trial at Inverness Sheriff Court.David Hill, who described himself as a bar manager and confirmed a previous address as the Station Hotel in Burghead, denied three charges related to touching under-18s.
But after a jury trial at Inverness Sheriff Court, he was found guilty of using lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices and behaviour towards a girl under 16 in the early 90s, doing the same to a second teenage victim in the late 2000s, and sexually assaulting a child under 13 between 2015 and 2017.
The charges describe how Hill targeted the first victim between November 1991 and November 1992 by touching her on the body.
In January 2008, he targeted his second victim by touching her on the body, touching her intimately, and digitally penetrating her.
Then, between April 2015 and April 2017, he sexually assaulted a child by lifting her clothing, touching her intimately, and digitally penetrating her.
All crimes took place in Moray.
Evidence included a taped interview with Hill’s youngest victim, where she recounted that he lifted her clothing and touched "around and about and then in" what she called "the flower part." She expressed uncertainty about her feelings at the time.
Hill denied being sexually attracted to children, claiming he had no idea what the accusations were about.
Despite having no prior convictions and being supported by family during the trial, Hill was convicted on all three charges by majority and placed on the sex offenders register with immediate effect.
The sheriff called for presentencing reports and an assessment for the Moving Forward 2 Change programme for sexual offenders.
Hill was released on bail, and the case will reconvene next month.
