INVERNESS MAN WHO SEXUALLY ASSAULTED WOMAN IS SPARED JAIL
A 28-year-old man from Inverness, Nathan Stewart, has received a sentence of community service without pay after he committed sexual assaults on a woman on two separate occasions while she was asleep.The incidents took place while Stewart was staying at the woman’s family residence.
The first assault occurred in the early hours of August 19, 2024, when the woman awoke to find Stewart beside her, having disturbed her clothing and engaging in inappropriate touching.
She left the bed, went to the bathroom, and spent time crying there until 5am, when Stewart left for work.
Three days later, they shared the bed again, but because of the previous event, she maintained her distance.
Nevertheless, she woke up around 3am to find Stewart groping her and then retreated to the bathroom until morning.
She later confronted Stewart and told him to find his own accommodation.
Stewart, who lives in Juniper Gardens, Inverness, admitted to the two charges of sexual assault.
The sheriff ordered that he be monitored by social services for two years, take part in the Caledonian Men’s Programme, and perform 240 hours of unpaid work over the course of a year, replacing a jail term.
In addition, he will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for two years, and a non-harassment order was issued to prevent contact with the victim for five years.
Sheriff Macdonald stated that locking him up would not resolve the core issues behind his behavior and highlighted the gravity of the offences.
Stewart’s legal representative, Marc Dickson, acknowledged his client’s diagnosis, including difficulties with comprehension and rejection traits, accepted his guilt, and acknowledged a moderate chance of reoffending.