Accused denies sex assault

Aman accused of sexually assaulting a stranger after a night out in Perth has denied he was “shopping for young women”.

Wieslaw Piotrowski told a jury he met his alleged victim at a city centre taxi rank and invited her back to his home.

The 62-year-old said he helped the woman because she had had “too much to drink” and could not stand on her feet.

Once in his room, she fell asleep on his bed, Piotrowski said.

He told jurors he was “a little bit disgusted” after he woke a short time later to find her on top of him.

Gardener Piotrowski denies he sexually assaulted the 37-year-old at his home at Perth Airport on November 4 2018.

He denies allegations he removed her clothing and performed a sex act on her when she was incapable of giving consent.

But when asked by fiscal depute Michael Sweeney if he had touched the woman’s private parts, Piotrowski said: “Maybe when I was trying to dry her (with a towel). Maybe my finger slipped.”

Piotrowski, who moved from Poland to the UK in 2005, took the witness stand on day three of his trial at Perth Sheriff Court.

He said he had gone out in Perth alone and had four small beers in two pubs.

The court heard he met the woman at a taxi rank on Mill Street.

“She was close to me,” he said, speaking through an interpreter.

“She dropped her keys and I helped her.

“We had a conversation and I asked her if she wanted to go back to mine. She agreed.”

The pair took a taxi to his home near Scone.

Piotrowski said he helped her out of the cab and along the path.

He said: “I opened the door for her and she walked inside.

“I showed her the direction to where she must go.”

“To your room?” asked solicitor Paul Ralph.

“Yes,” said Piotrowski. “She went straight on to the bed.”

He helped the woman take off her jacket and shoes, he said.

The woman removed her trousers and fell asleep, the court was told.

Piotrowski said he had a cigarette then climbed into bed to sleep. He said: “I woke up and I had some breathing difficulties.

“I noticed she was on top of me. She had an accident in the bed.”

He said he used a towel to dry the woman.

Piotrowski told the court his alleged victim began to dress herself.

“She said she was going to leave and she wanted me to get a taxi for her,” he said.

Asked if he called her a cab, he said: “No, I didn’t have a number for the taxi and if the taxi driver doesn’t know you they won’t come.

“I’ve had that problem before.”

He told the court he found the woman’s pants in his bed after she left.

“I was a little bit disgusted by her,” Piotrowski said.

Mr Sweeney asked him: “Were you out shopping for young women that evening?”

Piotrowski replied: “No.”

“But one of the first things you say to her is do you want to come back to mine?” said Mr Sweeney.

Piotrowski denied he had set out looking for a “sexual encounter”.

Mr Sweeney said: “You thought all your Christmases had come at once.”

The trial before Sheriff William Gilchrist continues.

DENIAL: Wieslaw Piotrowski says he was being helpful.