The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Man dressed as zombie groped woman at party
Sexual assault offender had breached community payback order
A man who dressed as a zombie at a Halloween party in Perth and sexually assaulted a woman dressed as a fairytale character has been given a community-based sentence.
Steven Green of Kingswell Terrace, Perth, had previously been found guilty after trial of the offence and was handed out a community payback order (CPO), whereby he was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
However, the 24-year-old breached that order and appeared at Perth Sheriff Court again yesterday when Sheriff Christopher Shead revoked the order and imposed a fresh CPO, instructing Green to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work.
The court had previously heard how Green had put his arms around the woman and her husband at the Halloween party, which had taken place at the Loft nightclub in Perth.
Despite being warned about his actions, Green took no notice and grabbed hold of the woman, put his hand up her skirt and touched her inappropriately.
Green had denied the sexual assault, claiming he was drunk and was just being friendly.
During the trial, footage of the incident was shown to the court. Green was seen going towards the woman and trying to kiss her.
The woman told the court she had gone to the fancy dress party with her husband. She explained the pair had been dancing when Green came “staggering” over to speak to them.
The woman said Green refused to go away and tried to kiss and grope her before eventually being taken away by nightclub stewards.
At the time, depute fiscal Rebecca Kynaston said: “The accused crossed the line. The complainer was unhappy with the way he was touching her and attempting to kiss her.
“She did not encourage him in any way and it was not welcome attention.
“The CCTV footage is quite explicit in showing the sexual element. The accused appeared to be following the woman on the dance floor, but she was there with her husband.”
Green had been found guilty after trial of behaving in a sexual manner by grabbing hold of the women’s body, placing his hand up her skirt, touching her inappropriately and repeatedly trying to kiss her at the Loft, South Street, Perth, on December 1 2015.