A man who forced a pregnant woman towards his naked genitals after a drinking spree on the day he was released from prison was sent back behind bars for 14 months.
George King had only spent hours out of jail having being freed from Castle Huntly open prison near Dundee on a 45-month serious assault term when he dropped his trousers outside Brechin’s Victoria Bar, giggling at what he considered “horseplay” with two female customers.
At Forfar Sheriff Court, the 42-year-old was also placed on the sex offenders register for seven years for what a sheriff labelled “an unpleasant and un-savoury experience” for the victim.
King, of the town’s Montrose Street, had earlier admitted intentionally exposing himself at the bar on December 14 last year and assaulting a woman by pulling her towards him.
The court had earlier been told friends had been plying the accused with booze and drunken King went outside where the women were having a cigarette.
He asked the women if they knew who he was before bursting into a fit of giggles and revealing his private parts. The accused then pushed the complainer’s head down level with his chest.
Police happened to arrive on the scene as the accused stumbled against the wall trying to do himself up.
Defence agent Bob Bruce told the court King recognised the serious consequences the offence could have, but said the act had been drink-fuelled horseplay.
“Mr King has no analogous offending and this is not the type of thing he would normally do. It was all a ridiculous drunken prank.
“Prior to his release he had numerous home leaves from Castle Huntly and wasn’t drinking.
“His friends took him out, he had a low tolerance level and acted in a manner that was entirely inappropriate,” added Mr Bruce.
“He wants to live a life where the bottle doesn’t play a paramount part. He’s extremely contrite and wishes to extend his apologies to the two women.”
Following King’s initial appearance from custody, Mr Bruce also told the court that during his last sentence the accused had also become a trained listener for the Samaritans, providing support to fellow inmates as part of a nationwide scheme run by the charity.
“Mr King fully appreciates and accepts all responsibility for his actions. It was all a big laugh to him but it was not perceived that way by the complainers.
Sheriff Kevin Veal said: “It is a pretty unsatisfactory state of affairs when he has his genitals on display, it’s a very unpleasant and unsavoury experience for the victim.
“It is also most unsatisfactory that he should re-offend on the very day of release from a 45-month sentence for assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
“I have the power to send him back to serve the unexpired portion of his sentence, which would take him to November 14, but I do not think that would be appropriate.”
He ordered King, who has spent 73 days in custody following the offence, to be recalled for nine months of his unexpired sentence, followed by a further jail term of five months, and placed him on the register.