A 65-year-old Aviemore train passenger who made sexual comments and gestures towards three young women was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and placed on the Sex Offender’s Register.
Robert Mackintosh’s threatening and abusive behaviour offence, which he admitted at Inverness Sheriff Court, occurred on March 20 this year between Inverness and Carrbridge.
Sentence had been deferred for a background report and when he re-appeared before Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood yesterday, he was represented by defence solicitor Rory Gowans.
The defence agent told the court that his client was drunk and couldn’t remember anything about the incidents.
He added: “Since he retired from Highland Council, he has fallen into alcoholism and accepts his behaviour was appalling.”
Mackintosh of Burnside Road, Aviemore was also placed under two year’s social work supervision.
Fiscal depute Ross Carvel told how Mackintosh sat opposite two teenage girls and began licking his lips and moving his tongue around “in what they perceived as a sexual manner.”
Mr Carvel said Mackintosh also made comments “Isn’t that outfit sleek?” and “you make me hot” before making a graphic sexual comment towards them.
“They changed carriage but were followed by Mackintosh who then sat close to them.”
The girls sat in the first class carriage with two other people, an older man and a younger woman.
Mr Carvel described how the man left the carriage and Mackintosh then leaned towards the woman and said: ‘Why don’t you come with me, I can show you 10 minutes of pleasure.”
Mr Carvel said Mackintosh was escorted from the train at Carrbridge. As he got off, Mackintosh raised his arms in a threatening manner.