Sex assault rap
A man has denied sexually assaulting an eight-year-old boy in the toilet of a Wishaw pub.
Graham Murray, 38, of Hillfoot Drive, Coltness, pleaded not guilty to the assault on the boy in The Wishaw Malt pub in Kirk Road on November 13 last year.
A man has denied sexually assaulting an eight-year-old boy in the toilet of a Wishaw pub.
Graham Murray appeared in the dock at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday and pleaded not guilty to the assault on the boy in The Wishaw Malt pub in Kirk Road on November 13 last year.
It is alleged that 38-year-old Murray, of Hillfoot Drive, Coltness, followed the boy to the toilet, instructed him to open a cubicle door, repeatedly banged on the door, attempted to force entry, placed the boy in a state of fear and alarm and induced him to open the cubicle door.
Murray also denied entering the cubicle, instructing the boy to be quiet, attempting to engage him in sexual activity, trying to kiss the boy and handle his body as well as pretending to another person that he was his son and then making sexual remarks towards him. Murray is due to stand trial on July 4. Police began their investigation after they received reports of an alleged sex attack on an eightyear-old boy in the toilets of the pub.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Around 5.20pm on Friday, November 13, police received a report of an eight-year-old boy who had been subjected to a sexual assault in a pub at Kirk Road, Wishaw.
“Inquiries were carried out and a 37-year-old man was arrested and detained in custody in connection with an alleged sexual assault.”
The Wishaw Malt is owned by pub chain Wetherspoon.
Eddie Gershon, a spokesman for Wetherspoon, said they worked closely with the police with their investigations into the matter.