Church elder placed on sex offenders list after assaults

COURT: ‘Predatory’ pensioner ‘abused’ trust of two women, aged 72 and 89

A 73-year-old Perthshire church elder has been placed on the sex offenders register after admitting sexually assaulting two fellow pensioners – one of whom was aged 89.

“Predatory” Ronald Allstaff, of Bridge of Earn, was told he had “abused” the trust of the two elderly women when he fondled and groped them on numerous occasions last year.

At Perth Sheriff Court yesterday, he was given a three-year community payback order with specific conduct arrangements and 225 hours of unpaid work, reduced from 300, to be completed within six months. He was also placed on the sexual offenders register for a period of three years.

The court had previously heard how Allstaff visited the elderly ladies to check on their welfare.

He did gardening work for the 89-year-old woman but on one occasion he put his hands on the lady’s breasts and fondled and groped her.

The distressed woman reacted by pushing Allstaff away, after he claimed it was “just a bit of fun”.

He also carried out a similar sex attack on the same woman when he tried to unclip her bra. On another occasion he placed his hands on her breasts but the woman slapped his hands. The 89-yearold lady then told a friend about the incidents and was physically shaking when describing what had happened.

The other woman, 72 years old, said she was assaulted by Allstaff more than 20 times, often when she was bending down when he would approach her from behind and try to fondle her breasts.

Sentencing, Sheriff William Wood, said that although the crimes were “persistent” they did not amount to serious sexual harm.

He said: “These were clearly elderly ladies who trusted you and whose trust you abused. The question is whether the threshold has been reached for a custodial sentence. It appears to be relatively low level harm of its type.”

A defence solicitor acting on behalf of Allstaff said: “He understands the anxiety and harm he has caused. He recognises the shame it has caused him and his family. He has difficulty coming to terms with that. He fully accepts that he did this.”

Allstaff, who has no previous convictions, had previously admitted the offences, which took place between May and November last year, and between April and November last year.

jkeith@thecourier.co.uk

Ronald Allstaff repeatedly groped both women, the court heard.