Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Carer who sexually abused home resident locked up for four years
A CARER who sexually abused a vulnerable resident at a city care home has been locked up.
Lewis Collings, 28, was caught with his trousers down while crouching beside the woman’s bed.
His trial at Dundee Sheriff Court heard claims Collings dropped his bottoms because he “had a wedgie” but later gave evidence saying it was his victim who pulled his trousers down.
Jurors, however, found Collings guilty of exposing himself to the woman.
A sheriff today slammed Collings after he appeared to give social workers a new explanation for how his offence occurred.
When giving evidence, o n e o f C o l l i n g s’ c o - workers said she walked into the woman’s room and saw him next to the woman with his trousers “20 to 30 centimetres” from his waist. She said Collings, a man with no previous convictions, did not attempt to pull his trousers and underwear up. He denied engaging i n any sexual activity and also claimed he removed his trousers because he was “hot”.
Collings, of Dunholm Road, was found guilty by a unanimous verdict of engaging in sexual activity with the woman by exposing himself to her at the home on May 13 2018.
The offence was committed while Collings was supposed to be providing care for her.
It was also revealed that Collings’ internet history around the time of the offence showed searches for terms including “what would happen to a carer if they had sex with a resident?”.
Collings returned to the dock from custody following the preparation of reports. Defence solicitor Kevin Hampton said that he could say little in mitigation, adding that he had recently been made aware of Collings potentially suffering undiagnosed learning difficulties.
Sheriff Tom Hughes imposed a four-year extended sentence on Collings, three of which will be served in custody.
Collings was also placed on the sex offenders register for life.
A spokesman for Living Ambitions, the care provider, said: “As soon as we were aware of the incident that led to this prosecution we reported this to the relevant authorities including the Care Inspectorate. The person i n v o lv e d wa s immediately removed from the location and suspended from duty. We have co-operated fully with the Adult Support and Protection Teams and Police Scotland at all times.”