A teenage witness broke down in tears as she told a court that a man plied her with drink and drugs before sexually assaulting her.
The witness said she visited Steven Whitecross’ home in Inverness, on June 30 or July 1, 2012.
She told a jury at Inverness Sheriff Court that Whitecross, 44, poured vodkas and coke and then crumbled hash into a pipe and gave it to her to smoke.
The teenager told the jury: “I had some vodka and coke. I remember I had more than one but can’t remember how many.”
She said she took several draws on the pipe and the next thing she remembers was lying on a bed and Whitecross sitting on the bed rubbing her left leg.
Fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart asked the witness to read the statement she had given to police, but as she did so she began to weep.
When it became clear to Sheriff Margaret Neilson that she could not continue, arrangements were made to hear the rest of her evidence by video link this morning.
Earlier a young sales assistant said some time between July 1 and July 14, 2010, she was indecently assaulted by Whitecross in her home in Inverness.
She said: “He arrived at my door with cigarettes for me and my boyfriend. I was alone and still in my pyjamas.
“Then he tried to kiss me. I turned away but he still kissed me on the cheek. I shot off and said I had to get to work. As I tried to lock the door behind him he tried to kiss me again.
“It was wrong that a man of his age should have done that. I was in tears and upset and phoned my best friend to tell her about it. It was over a year before I could tell my boyfriend.”
Whitecross, now of Marina Quay, Lossiemouth, denies sexual assault against the witness who broke down in court and indecent assault against the sales assistant.
He also denies indecent assault against a third girl aged under 16, and engaging in a sex act with a girl of 15 by fondling her and attempting to kiss her.
He further denies culpably and recklessly supplying alcohol to young people under the age of 18, and supplying cannabis to two girls.
The trial continues.