A drunken Comrie man who left a 15-year-old girl terrified and in tears after repeatedly offering her money for sex has been placed on the sex offenders register.
Norman Hinks pestered his young victim with inappropriate suggestions and promised her “a night of passion” as she took a bus home in September.
With no means of escape, she was forced to endure increasingly loud and insistent offers from the 58-year-old who thought offers of £100 would persuade the schoolgirl.
Numerous bus passengers had attempted to intervene as the heavily intoxicated accused targeted the girl, telling him “Leave her alone, she’s just a bairn” and “Stop it. You’re being a paedo”.
It was only when the girl fled the bus in tears to run the rest of the way home that the ordeal ended.
Appearing for sentencing at Perth Sheriff Court, Hinks was told he had caused his victim “considerable distress” as steps were taken to protect the public from him.
As a first offender, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said he was willing to impose an alternative to custody and made Hinks subject to a community payback order requiring him to be under the supervision of social workers for the next nine months and ordered him to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.
Perth Sheriff Court heard Hinks stumbled onto a Stagecoach bus just behind his victim who was returning home after a day spent with her boyfriend on September 2.
Hinks targeted the girl almost immediately, asking her “Why is such a beautiful young girl all alone?” and “Why does she not have a boyfriend?”.
Depute Fiscal Tina Dickie said: “She felt uncomfortable but smiled politely and then put her earphones in.
“Her phone was out of battery but she hoped it would be enough to stop the accused from speaking to her.”
Hinks persisted, asking her: “If I give you £100 will you have sex with me”.
As the burly Hicks loomed over the girl in her seat, witnesses surrounded him to demand he stop, only for him to begin shouting at her and repeatedly asking her to carry out sexual acts upon him.
The depute fiscal added: “She was obviously hugely alarmed.
“She got off the bus at her stop and burst into tears when she got home.”
Hinks, of Dalginross, Comrie, admitted intentionally directing sexual communication towards a 15-year-old girl, repeatedly offering her money for sex and making inappropriate sexual remarks towards her, to her fear and alarm.
He pleaded guilty despite claiming to have no recollection of the night’s events.
