The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Sex attack man had walked free from court
Man committed ‘evil’ act days after deferred decision
A High land man sexually assaulted a drunken woman – just days after walking free from court on another indecency offence. Benjamin Mackay had had sentence deferred at Inverness Sheriff Court on April 13 – five days later he was committing the sex attack. Yesterday, Mackay, pictured, was jailed for more than three years.
An Inverness man who sexually assaulted a drunk woman just days after he walked free from court on another offence has been jailed for more than three years.
Benjamin Mackay had sentence deferred for good behaviour at Inverness Sheriff Court on April 13 after he admitted possessing a stash of indecent images of children.
But just five days later, the 23-year-old pounced on a victim at a flat in southeast London.
The former lifeguard, who also has a conviction for asking two schoolgirls to send him naked pictures of themselves, has now been jailed for three years and four months at Woolwich Crown Court.
Mackay groped the sleeping 29-year-old, causing a tiny cut.
Mackay, of 5 Woodlands Close, Westhill, Inverness, pleaded guilty to assault by penetration on April 18 at an address in Birling Road, Erith, London.
Prosecutor Julia Faure Walker told the court Mackay had travel led down to London to assist an elderly relative with some decorating, but decided to stay overnight at another house 10 minutes away.
“Alcohol was consumed and the victim, who was staying at the house overnight, bought more alcohol and the defendant was also drinking.”
Miss Faure Walker told howthe victim fell asleep at about 11pm, andthe assault happened.
She added: “It maybe lasted 20 seconds and she felt in danger.
“Mackay offered her a cigarette then went outside for a cigarette.
“She recalls feeling quite disgusted.
“The defendant returned and started to stroke her legs as she lay on the sofa."
The next day the “emotionally fragile" victim reported Mac kay tothe police and when arrested he told officers: “No way, no way."
He has been in custody ever since.
The court heard the victim suffered a 0.5 millimetre laceration.
“She is receiving counselling and says her trust in people has disappeared," added Miss Faure Walker.
In her victim impact statement, she said of the period following the sexual assault: “Those days were the darkest days of my life.
“After the assault I tried to carry on as normal. I attempted to go to work, but couldn't get through the door and sat in my car, not knowing what to do.
“For a stage I went completely numb and considered quitting my job and packing up and running away and it took a long
“I went completely numb and considered quitting my job”
time before I felt any better."
Judge Nicholas Heath coteWilliams QC told Mackay : “This was committed five days after a sentence was deferred in Scotland to test if you were behaving well.” Mac kay wasalso ordered to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely and was placed on the barring list preventing him working with children and vulnerable adults.