Dundee United’s former stadium manager, who sexually assaulted a female colleague at Tannadice Park, has narrowly avoided a custodial sentence.
Albert Dawson, 49, of Victoria Road, Forfar, was placed on a community payback order for three years and is to be supervised “intensely” through the Tay Project.
Dawson was also placed on the sex offenders register for the same period and must inform his supervising officer of any friendships he forms with any female.
Sentencing him at Dundee Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Sheriff Tom Hughes warned Dawson that he had two options, one of which was jailing him to reflect the seriousness of the matter.
Dawson had previously admitted that between February 1, 2011 and April 30, 2011, at Tannadice Park, he sexually assaulted a woman by standing behind her, putting his arms round her, pulling her on to his body and touching her privateparts over her clothing.
The court heard Dawson walked up behind the woman 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 complained to her line manager but didn’t want the police involved.
Dawson was confronted by club management and admitted his behaviour. He was given only a warning and kept his job.
Miss Robertson said Dawson made a further comment towards the woman at the start of the following season that made her feel uncomfortable and she reported the matter to the police.
Dawson admitted: “I hold my hands up to that I had been mucking about with the lass and I went too far.”
Solicitor Bob Bruce told the court Dawson had lost his employment and was now claiming benefits of £71 per week.
He said: “Mr Dawson pled guilty at the first opportunity, thereby preventing a trial and unnecessary appearance at court by the complainer. He admitted his guilt, not only to the court but to his employers and the police.
“He says he would often ‘goof around’ with his colleagues, it was common practice to come up behind them, both male and female, but he fully accepts that it was more than horseplay, he clearly went too far…”
Mr Bruce continued: “He apologises to her and deeply regrets his actions. He has lost his job, he had been there a long time and it has caused him great anguish. It was something he really enjoyed.”
Sheriff Hughes said: “I think it’s clear to everybody that your behaviour was totally unacceptable. You placed the lady concerned in a very distressing position. She is traumatised to this very day.”
He warned Dawson: “If you breach this order it will come back to me and the other option will be a custodial sentence.”
Following his confession, his victim said: “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.”