An Aberdeen engineering inspector sexually assaulted a woman he had met only minutes before when she showed him around her garden.
Kenneth Robertson had complimented his victim’s garden after passing it by chance in July 2021.
She invited him to look at other parts of it, before offering him a tour of her house, which the court heard she was “proud” of maintaining.
Robertson, who was living in Dundee at the time and had been travelling back to his family home after visiting a bike shop, was shown inside the woman’s house.
They had chatted about “general” things, even joking about the television show Gardener’s World, Robertson said.
Visit turns sinister
When he was being shown around, he commented about the woman not wearing a bra.
Up to then the conversation had not been sexual or intimate.
He then asked “do you mind if I feel your boobs”, to which his victim replied “oh…no”.
Robertson, 60, then put his hand down her top and groped her.
After he molested her Robertson asked if he could take off her top.
He then removed his hand and the woman showed him to the door but not before he asked if she would “invite him back for a cup of tea”, Dundee Sheriff Court heard.
He then left a bunch of flowers, a bottle of wine and a note with his phone number – apologising for being “forward” – on his terrified victim’s doorstep.
This led police straight to the father, who has since moved from Dundee to Aberdeen.
Denied any wrongdoing
Robertson gave evidence at his trial on Monday, claiming the woman’s response of “oh…no” had given him the all-clear to act as he had.
He even told the court he felt the woman had been “frosty” with him in the immediate aftermath of his assault.
The attack took place in Dundee on July 2, with police showing up at Robertson’s Bridgefoot home the next day.
His victim was so traumatised she initially refused to answer her door to the police after she phoned them to make a complaint, the court heard.
PC Gillian Robb told the trial when she arrived at the woman’s home the day after the attack, she was “shaken and upset”, when describing what had happened.
As he was being put in the back of their police car having been arrested, Robertson asked the constables to tell his approaching wife he was being questioned about road traffic offences.
PC Robb had to keep reminding Roberston he was under caution while in the car and that anything he said could be given in evidence because, she told the court, he appeared to be “making admissions” about what he had done.
He appeared “disappointed in himself”.
Found guilty
Robertson had denied two charges.
He was acquitted of acting in a threatening or abusive manner but found guilty by Sheriff Grant McCulloch of sexually assaulting a woman in her home on July 2 2021 by putting his hand down her top and squeezing her nipple.
Fining Robertson £500 and placing him on the Sex Offenders Register for five years, Sheriff McCulloch said: “To me it is quite clear a sexual encounter was on (his) Robertson’s mind.
“Was there consent? Not in my view.
“The evidence does not explain the accused’s position.
“All of the circumstances lead to this being non-consensual.
“I find it difficult to understand why you behaved as you did.”
In mitigation, defence solicitor Douglas McConnell explained Robertson has never appeared before the courts and the sex offender notification requirements would cause him difficulty in his employment.
Robertson, having maintained his not guilty plea throughout, sneaked out of court with his hood up and a scarf on and face mask on.
