MSP hits out over Amazon dares cards

Asenior Scottish politician is to have “serious discussions” with Amazon over the sale of hen party dares cards following a sexual assault trial in Aberdeen.

Angela Cumming, 60, thrust her hand into the boxer shorts of a 22-yearold stranger after being dared to “put an ice cube down the front of the nearest man’s trousers”.

She was found guilty of sexual assault after her student victim told the trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court how her hand touched his genitals and he felt “shocked, shaken and violated”.

Mum-of-four Cumming told the court how she was simply following the instructions of a dare card, which are billed as “funny, silly, naughty and hilarious”.

However, shadow justice secretary Jamie Greene MSP said a game of dares was “no excuse” for sexual assault.

He told The Press and Journal: “My thoughts are with the victim of this sexual assault and I wish him well going forward.

“It’s right that someone who actually followed through with a dare of this nature has been held accountable for their actions, not least because the victim felt violated.

“Sexual assault has no place in our society and peer pressure or ‘dares’ are no excuse for it.”

The set of dare cards involved in this game is available to buy for £4.99 online through Amazon.

Cards for stag parties are also available and are billed as “designed with the slightly more intoxicated person in mind”.

Mr Greene said he will discuss the sale of the cards during his next meeting with the online giant.

The Press and Journal contacted Amazon and put the concerns of Mr Greene to them, however a

spokesperson declined to comment.

During the trial of Cumming – who carried out the assault at College Bar in Aberdeen on May 4 last year – fiscal depute Alan Townsend questioned the appropriateness of the cards.

He also put it to Ms Cumming that what was appropriate a few decades

ago was not deemed so now. Mr Townsend asked her: “What was acceptable in the 80s is not acceptable today. Yes?

“Given the sands of time, maybe you see that?”

Cumming, of Station Road, Newmachar, accepted that “in this day and time”, she did.

Sentence was deferred for reports.

GUILTY: Angela Cumming, 60, put an ice cube down a student’s underpants.