An elderly sex offender who was once caught molesting a horse has been ordered to carry out unpaid work for a sex assault at McDonald’s in Perth.
Pensioner William Nicoll admitted twice slapping a teenager’s bottom at the Dunkeld Road fast food restaurant.
The 76-year-old, who was arrested for indecency in 2013 after he was seen with his hand up a horse’s backside, is now back on the Sex Offenders Register.
He has also been ordered to stay away from his victim as part of a two-year non-harassment order.
Prosecutors had also asked for Nicoll to be banned from McDonald’s.
Teenager left ‘scared and upset’
Fiscal depute Nicole Lewis told Perth Sheriff Court Nicoll had entered the diner and “came right up close to the complainer’s face” and spoke to her.
“She was alone at the time.
“He went to walk away but then slapped her on the bottom.
“She was left scared and upset.”
Nicoll was thrown out of the restaurant and staff called police.
He later told officers: “I just talked to her.
“I might have brushed past her.”
Investigators saw what really happened when they viewed the restaurant’s CCTV.
‘Set in his ways’
Solicitor Billy Somerville, defending, said: “His last conviction was some time ago and this latest incident is perhaps not at the highest end of the scale.
“He will attend any course of treatment plan as instructed by his supervising officer.”
Asked by Sheriff Robert Vaughan about the possibility of deferring sentence for more reports, Mr Somerville said: “I don’t see that is necessary.
“He is 76 and is somewhat set in his ways.”
The sheriff sentenced Nicoll to 120 hours of unpaid work and placed him on supervision for two years.
He will stay on the Sex Offenders Register for two years.
Nicoll, of Kincardine Road, Crieff, responded: “What am I going to do?
“Just stay in my home?
“I’ve got to get my car MOT’d and that.”
Foal fetish
Nicoll appeared in court nine years ago and admitted a sexually aggravated breach of the peace charge.
The court heard he was spotted by children repeatedly inserting his hand into a horse’s rear end in a field near Crieff.
When confronted by the foal’s disgusted owner, he said: “I’m very lonely.”
Prosecutor Carol Whyte told the court the horse’s owner felt “physically sickened” after she caught Nicoll.
“He seemed so engrossed in what he was doing that he didn’t see her and her children approach.”
A lawyer for Nicoll said he was “vulnerable,” and added: “He would like to have been a vet.”
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