The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Jail for filming sex assault on woman
Apervert who filmed themselves sexually assaulting a sleeping woman has been jailed for almost two years.
Laura Miller, who was described at a previous hearing as gender-neutral, will remain on the sex offenders register for 10 years following their release.
Miller, 29, appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court for sentencing having previously admitted a charge of sexual assault on the day their trial was due to begin.
The offence took place at a property on Skye in 2017.
At the earlier hearing the court heard how Miller had assaulted the woman on several occasions when she was incapable of giving or withholding consent.
Fiscal depute Martina Eastwood told the court: “On one occasion (Miller) recorded a video of (the complainer) when she was asleep.”
In the video Miller is seen removing the victim’s clothing and exposing her private parts and touching her breasts, Ms Eastwood said.
The court heard that Miller, of Brediland, Paisley, then made an offensive sexual remark about the woman.
Their plea of not guilty to a charge of coercing someone into looking at a sexual image and communicating indecently with them for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification, or of humiliating, distressing or alarming them by repeatedly sending videos, was accepted by the Crown.
Speaking at the sentencing, defence solicitor advocate Mike Chapman said: “This is clearly an unsavoury offence.
“However, it was an offence that was committed five years ago when the panel was a relatively young person.”
He told the court that his client was in a “somewhat settled” relationship with a supportive partner and asked Sheriff Margaret Neilson to consider a noncustodial disposal.
Sheriff Neilson noted Miller’s previous record and referenced two convictions resulting in imprisonment saying: “That has to be a matter of grave concern.”
She also referenced the nature of the crime and told Miller: “You pled guilty, albeit at the last minute, to such a serious offence that I have concluded that only a custodial sentence is appropriate here.”
Sheriff Neilson sentenced Miller to 23 months
in jail.