MENTAL HEALTH PATIENT WITH SUPERVISION FAILS TO PREVENT SEXUAL ASSAULT IN INVERNESS STORE
A man suffering from a mental health disorder, Philip Mackenzie, who was under 24-hour supervision due to a social services guardianship arrangement, sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl inside a store in Inverness.His support worker failed to accompany him to the toilet in accordance with policy, which led to the incident.
During the attack, Mackenzie pushed the girl into a disabled toilet, pushed her to the ground, and touched her inappropriately.
Following the assault, the girl escaped visibly distressed, told others what had happened, and was found to have bruising and abrasions.
Mackenzie, 35, admitted to the charge of sexually assaulting the girl, recognizing the profound impact on her.
The court deferred sentencing to next month for reports and assessments, and Mackenzie was placed on the sex offenders register with immediate effect.
The support worker involved was issued a warning after failing to follow policies, and the incident was investigated by authorities.
The case highlights gaps in supervision and the importance of strict adherence to care policies.
