Oban man admits to sex assault

A 25-year-old Oban man has been sentenced to 200 hours unpaid work for a sexual assault on a sleeping woman.

Benjamin Elliot Barclay pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman at an address in Oban while she was sleeping on Saturday December 5, 2020, by unbuttoning her jeans and repeatedly touching her under her clothing.

Defence agent Craig Broadley told Oban Sheriff Court on Wednesday February 23 that Barclay ‘had consumed a quantity of alcohol’, and ‘is deeply remorseful’. ‘He presents a low risk. This is an isolated matter. We are dealing with a man with no offending history.’

Sheriff Patrick Hughes told Barclay: ‘Offences of this kind are deeply traumatic for victims. It can live with them for many years.’ He added: ‘The risk that you pose to the public is low.’

He sentenced Barclay to a community payback order comprising 200 hours of unpaid work, a compensation requirement of £500, and supervision for 15 months.