GARY POWELL FROM NAIRN SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON YOUNG GIRLS IN INVERNESS

A 67-year-old man from Nairn, identified as Gary Powell, has been handed a prison sentence after being convicted of sexually assaulting two young girls during the summer months of 2023. The case was heard at Inverness Sheriff Court, where Powell appeared for sentencing following his admission to two counts of sexual assault that took place between June 3 and August 20 of that year.

During the court proceedings, disturbing details emerged about the nature of the assaults. It was revealed that Powell had targeted one of his victims in June, during which he squeezed her breast and made a disturbing comment, saying, "You are practically a woman now." The court also heard that in August, Powell engaged in inappropriate contact with another young girl, touching her inside her underwear and asking whether that was how she played with her boyfriend. These actions caused significant distress to the victims, who later reported feelings of trauma and engagement in self-harm as a result of the incidents.

Throughout the hearing, Powell initially denied one of the allegations, claiming that it was false. However, he admitted to squeezing the breast of the first girl but denied the second charge involving the inappropriate touching. His legal representative highlighted his background as a Royal Navy veteran, with 23 years of service, including deployment in the Falklands. The solicitor expressed remorse for Powell’s actions, emphasizing his military service and the regret he felt.

After considering victim impact statements and pre-sentencing reports, the sheriff decided on a custodial sentence of 16 months in prison. Additionally, Powell was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of 10 years. The sheriff cited the severe trauma inflicted on the victims and their subsequent self-harming behaviors as key reasons for the custodial punishment, underscoring the seriousness of the offenses and the need for ongoing monitoring of Powell’s conduct.