DUMFRIES LECTURER PLACED ON SEX OFFENDERS’ REGISTER FOR GRABBING WOMAN'S CHEST
A 55-year-old man named Donald Thorburn has been placed on the sex offenders’ register after he was found guilty of putting his arms around a woman and touching her breast.The incident occurred at a Dumfries pub when the woman, in her 30s, was holding up a camera to take a picture of her friends.
She described how she felt when the incident happened, stating, “I felt the hands coming round me from behind and one hand was put on my breast ...
it wasn’t accidental.” The woman identified Thorburn from the dock and mentioned her acquaintance with him, saying, “I recognised him as a partner of a woman who ran a beauty salon.” Thorburn maintained a plea of not guilty, asserting that he was not the one who touched her and claimed it was a case of mistaken identity.
He told the court, “I don’t go around touching women up or groping them,” and expressed shock at being brought to police attention.
The court judge, Sheriff Brian Mohan, found Thorburn guilty, noting his otherwise clean record and suggesting it appeared to be “a moment of madness.” The sheriff deferred sentencing for six weeks to allow for background reports.
