Victim followed home by predator

A MARRIED plumber who followed a woman home from an all-night bakery to carry out a sex attack on her has been jailed for two years.

Grandfather Stephen Willocks was placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years after being found guilty at Dundee Sheriff Court.

The jury heard how the 59-year-old followed the woman to Pie Bob’s bakery in Arbroath, Angus, from a nightclub where he had been drinking alone.

He pestered her in the bakery and witnesses said she appeared upset on leaving with items she had bought and getting into a taxi.

The victim said the next time she saw Willocks, who was not previously known to her, was at her home.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Paul Brown told Willocks: ‘This is a very serious matter. The complainer’s evidence was that her memory of her journey from the nightclub to Pie Bob’s to her home was unclear.

‘However, she remembers coming into her home herself. She said you came in after her. She emerged to find you on the stairwell.

‘She said she told you to leave. You assaulted her. I take the view that the complainer’s evidence was credible and reliable. You followed her.

She was uncomfortable and scared in Pie Bob’s. Neighbours spoke of her running hysterically into their house in a state of undress.

‘I note your previous good character and the devastation this has had on your life. What I have not heard is any remorse, empathy or concern for the victim of your crime.’

Counsel for the defence, Jonathan Crowe, said: ‘It was a situation where two drunk individuals ended up at the complainer’s flat and Mr Willocks tried to initiate sexual relations with the complainer which she did not want.’

He added: ‘He and his family are of the opinion this was completely out of character for him.

‘The court heard he did not offer any plausible explanation why he had gone to the nightclub. He advised it was the only place open and he had gone for a late drink.

‘He is a first offender and has never been in trouble before. It appears your lordship took the view he acted in a predatory manner and followed the complainer home.’

Willocks, of Arbroath, was found guilty of sexually assaulting the 21-year-old woman at an address in the town in December 2019.