SEX ATTACKER TARGETED TWO SLEEPING WOMEN
Chef Stuart Cuthbertson pounced on his first victim at a home in Renfrew after he had been on a night out with her and friends.Six months later Cuthbertson, who was working as a cook at TGI Friday’s at Braehead’s Xscape at the time, struck again.
He carried out the second attack at his fiancé’s birthday party at their home in Paisley.
The 23-year-old targeted the young woman while a handful of their friends also lay sleeping.
Cuthbertson was placed on the sex offenders’ register this week after being convicted of both attacks.
The High Court in Paisley heard he committed the first offence on November 6, 2012 at a flat in Renfrew.
Peter Ferguson QC told the court that Cuthbertson and his then fiancé, Gillian McEwan, had gone out for the evening.
The prosecutor said the couple had some drinks then when to a local fireworks display.
They had a drink in Paisley’s Café Borgia, in the town’s New Street, before going to a flat in Renfrew’s Herald Way to continue the festivities with friends.
They kept drinking and the victim, who can’t be named for legal reasons, fell asleep on the couch.
The court heard she woke to find Cuthbertson sitting next to her, holding up her top and staring at her breasts.
He ran off to the toilet when he noticed his victim had woken up, the court was told.
Ferguson, prosecuting, told Lord Brailsford: “The events only came to light following the events of charge two.” There was a party at the flat Cuthbertson shared with McEwan, in Paisley’s Andrew Stree, to celebrate her 22nd birthday last April.
As the party wound down the revellers descended on the couple’s bedroom to crash out.
A young woman, the second victim, went to bed with her clothes on.
Cuthbertson left the living room, where the party was in full swing, and headed to the bedroom, the court heard.
He then went back to the living room and said to McEwan that he wanted to go to bed but couldn’t as there were too many people on it already.
But, a short time later, a pal who was leaving the party bumped into the bedroom door, causing it to swing open.
Cuthbertson was spotted only wearing a pair of boxers.
He shut the door and, just a few seconds later, they heard the victim screaming.
Mr Ferguson said: “Two others were awoken by the complainer’s cries.
“The duvet was now off her and her leggings and pants were down at her knees.” The court heard he touched her inappropriately.
He was originally charged with attempted rape but pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault.
He also admitted sexually assaulting the first woman by pulling up her clothing and staring at her breasts.
Lord Brailsford called for a report, released Cuthbertson on bail and deferred sentence until next month.
