Dundee United’s stadium manager has admitted sexually assaulting a woman inside Tannadice.
The city’s sheriff court heard that Albert Dawson, 49, of Victoria Street, Forfar, was given a warning by Dundee United after the incident in 2011, and allowed to keep his job.
At the start of last football season he made a comment towards her that made her feel uncomfortable and she went to the police.
She said: “Everybody said I was making it up and now it has been proven that I was telling the truth.”
Dawson attacked the woman at Tannadice between February 1 and April 30 2011.
The woman was employed by theclub and the court heard Dawson walkedup behind her and said: “What are you doing?”
He then stood behind her and put his arms around her, pulling her close to him.
Depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson said: “He then touched her breasts over her clothing and put his hands between her legs for a few seconds.”
The woman ran out of the stand and found a groundsman who was nearby and told him what was happening.
Ms Robertson continued: “Thegroundsman could see she was upset. She went home, still upset and crying, and told her partner about the incident.”
The woman complained to her linemanager at the club but didn’t want the police involved at that point.
Dawson was confronted by clubmanagement and admitted his behaviour.
He was given only a warning and allowed to keep his job.
Miss Robertson said Dawson did not speak to the woman for some time, but at the start of last football season he made a further comment towards her that made her feel uncomfortable.
She then decided to report the assault to the police, and became “hysterically upset” when telling officers.
The next week she left her post and went on sick leave.
Police interviewed Dawson about the incident, and he said “I hold my handsup to that I had been mucking about with the lass and I went too far.”
Dawson pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the woman.
Sheriff Tom Hughes deferredsentence for social work reportsuntil November 20 and placedDawson’s name on the sex offendersregister.
His victim said: “These past two years have just been a nightmare.
“I’m prone to panic attacks now, and for the past month they have been getting worse. I regret not reporting it earlier.
“Now I can just get on with the rest of my life.
“For years it’s been a case of his word against hers with things like this.
“It’s all changed now and women don’t have to put up with it.”
A spokesman for Dundee United refused to be drawn on whether Dawson is still employed by the club.
Dawson has looked after the pitch at Tannadice since 2000, and became the first person to win the Scottish Groundsman of the Year award, given out by the Institute of Groundsmanship.
He was given the award for the SPL as well as the overall prize for best in the country.
His work was also nominated for best pitch in 2008, when he came runner-up to Celtic’s John Hayes.