Creep groped cop while she worked in town centre

A drunk creep sexually assaulted a cop while she was on duty.

Serial offender James Wright, who has 78 previous convictions, groped the officer, who was in her full police uniform, as she and a colleague attended a call and found him drinking.

Wright, 41, told her he thought she was “a scheme bird” and said she was “a good looking girl” after grabbing her.

The details emerged yesterday when Wright, of George Street, Paisley, appeared in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court to be sentenced over the incident.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the officer, who can’t be named for legal reasons, by seizing “her on the body sexually” in a close where he lives on June 30 this year.

Procurator Fiscal Depute Claire Rowan explained: “At around 10.10pm the police were called to attend the common close at George Street in relation to a separate matter.

“They saw the accused and he was drinking from a bottle of wine.

“He appeared to be under the influence of alcohol but was able to converse freely.

“The PC and her colleague went to leave and the now accused grabbed the PC’s buttock with his left hand, exerting pressure.”

They informed him he was under arrest for sexually assaulting the officer and he was placed in a police vehicle to be transported to the police station.

As they made their way to the police office, he said: “I thought you were just some scheme bird - you’re a good looking girl with blonde hair.”

And, when he was cautioned and charged with the offence, Wright replied: “I’m sorry.”

Defence solicitor Michael McKeown, representing Wright, said: “He doesn’t remember much, of course, due to his level of intoxication.

“He fully appreciates he behaved in a wholly inappropriate way.

“This was due to his level of intoxication and it is wholly out of character for him.

“He has no history of any sexual offences, or any sexualised behaviour, and he’s very embarrassed to find himself in this position.

“His position is that he needs help with regards to his alcohol consumption.

“His offending tends to be linked to his consumption of alcohol.”

Sheriff Colin Pettigrew spared him prison so he can get help with his demons.

He said: “You have 78 previous convictions - an astonishing number.

“You have six previous convictions for assault.

“This behaviour, whether sober or drunk, cannot be countenanced.

“Alcohol is an explanation, not a justification, for the way you acted.

“I could simply send you to custody today, but I’m not going to do that.

“I’m going to give you a fairly high tariff alternative to a custodial sentence, because I will not have officers going out to do their lawful duties being assaulted in this manner.

“If you don’t stop and continue to drink at the rate which you are, you’ll not be around much longer - you’ll end up, sadly, killing yourself.”

He placed Wright on both a Community Payback Order (CPO) and a Restriction of Liberty Order (RoLO) for what he termed the “unsavory incident.”

The CPO will see him supervised by social workers for 12 months, having to attend alcohol treatment with Renfrewshire Drug Service, and completing 100 hours’ unpaid work within nine months.

The RoLO will see him fitted with an electronic tag and having to remain within his home between 7pm and 7am every day for the next four months.

He was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years and warned he could be caged if he breaches the Orders.

You have 78 previous convictions – an astonishing number. This behaviour, whether drunk or sober, cannot be countenanced