ROBERT BEATTIE FROM GILFORD SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENSES INVOLVING TEENAGE WORKER

A resident of Gilford, Robert Beattie, has been officially registered as a sex offender following a disturbing incident involving a teenage shop employee. The incident occurred in July when Beattie, aged 49, pulled down the young woman's T-shirt, exposing her breasts in a manner that caused her considerable distress.

Beattie was brought before the court where he pleaded guilty to charges of indecently touching the teenage worker. As part of his sentencing, he received a two-month prison sentence, which was suspended for two years, meaning he will not serve time unless he commits another offense within that period.

During the court proceedings, Beattie made further inappropriate remarks, asking the young woman to visit his home for sex and oral sex, all in the presence of a child. These actions and comments added to the court's concern over his conduct and the impact on the victim.

The court heard that Beattie's actions caused significant emotional distress to the young woman, highlighting the severity of the incident. In his defense, Beattie claimed that his behavior was intended as a joke, a statement that did little to mitigate the court's view of his conduct.

In addition to his prison sentence, Beattie was ordered to pay compensation to the victim. Furthermore, he is now subject to lifelong registration on the sex offenders register, a measure designed to monitor and restrict his activities to protect the public. The case underscores the serious consequences of inappropriate behavior and the importance of accountability for such actions.