ROBERT ESQUIERDO FROM CUMNOCK CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AT ROYAL HOTEL IN GLAISNOCK STREET

A man hailing from Cumnock, identified as Robert Esquierdo, has been found guilty of committing a sexual assault against a woman inside the Royal Hotel located on Glaisnock Street. The incident took place on the evening of September 30, 2023, and has since led to a court case that culminated in a conviction.

According to court proceedings, Esquierdo was accused of physically assaulting the woman by grabbing her genitals and buttocks over her clothing. Despite his initial plea of not guilty, the evidence presented during the trial at Ayr Sheriff Court proved his guilt beyond reasonable doubt. CCTV footage played a crucial role in establishing the timeline and nature of the assault, with the court being shown images that captured the incident.

Police responded swiftly to the scene around 9:30 pm, where they found the victim visibly distressed, crying, and clearly upset by the incident. Following his arrest, Esquierdo was taken into custody and initially responded to police inquiries with a 'no comment' stance. He was subsequently cautioned and formally charged with the offence.

Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart, presiding over the case, expressed her firm belief that Esquierdo was responsible for the assault. She sentenced him to a community supervision order for a period of nine months and mandated that he be registered on the sex offenders register for the same duration. Furthermore, the court issued a strict non-harassment order, which prohibits Esquierdo from making any contact with the victim for a period of 18 months.

In her sentencing remarks, Sheriff MacTaggart clarified that she did not see the need for a custodial sentence in this case. She highlighted that the case was heavily reliant on CCTV evidence and noted that Esquierdo’s actions appeared to be out of character. His solicitor also mentioned this aspect during the court proceedings, emphasizing that the incident was uncharacteristic of his usual behavior.