INVERNESS MAN GUILTY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND THREATENING BEHAVIOR
A man named Paul Erwin has pleaded guilty to charges of threatening behaviour and sexual assault following multiple incidents on the streets of Inverness.He approached several women in different locations: on the Raining’s Steps, where he put his arm around one woman and told her she was a 'good-looking woman', creating a frightening experience for her.
Another victim was followed to her car, where he engaged her in conversation before kissing her hand, holding it for a significant time.
A third woman was stopped on Church Street after walking for a considerable period with Erwin, who hugged and kissed her.
These actions, captured on CCTV, showed Erwin acting in a threatening and sexually inappropriate manner.
The court was told the CCTV footage clearly depicts the incidents, with the victims describing their experiences as alarming and unsettling.
In addition to the assaults, Erwin admitted to stealing money from a 14-year-old girl inside a shop on Inverness High Street.
The court case included recommendations for assessments and programs for sexual offenders, with Sheriff Aitken calling for a report and considering a possible alternative to jail through the 'Moving Forward to Change' program.
Erwin was also immediately registered as a sex offender, with the duration of registration to be decided at sentencing scheduled for next month.
Until then, he has been released on bail.
