Ayrshire pervert spared jail- despite background report

The 22-year-old admitted sexually assaulting a women at a property in Dalmellington.

A pervert who sexually assaulted a woman has been spared further jail time- despite a background report warning that there’s a “high risk” his criminal behaviour will continue.

Ross Pettigrew appeared from custody at Ayr Sheriff Court on Tuesday, November 19.

The 22-year-old admitted three charges on the indictment which included sexually assaulting a women at a property in Dalmellington on June 23 by touching her leg and breast through her clothing.

Pettigrew, a prisoner of HM Kilmarnock, further admitting seizing hold of a dog and attempting to steal it on the same date and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, entering a property uninvited, kicking bins and a door, struggling violently with a person and butting them on the head.

Sentence was deferred from a previous hearing in order to obtain a criminal justice social work report.

But when the case returned to court last week Pettigrew’s defence solicitor, John Gallagher, was critical of the report.

He told the court: “In relation to the report I am surprised by the conclusion. There is no focus for a community-based disposal.

“I do not concur with that.

“The issue here is the abuse of alcohol, particularly in times of crisis.

“A risk assessment has been carried out and on page five, third paragraph from the bottom of the report, it says there is a high risk of re-offending.

“He does have a record that does him no credit but I can’t understand why he is being catapulted into the high risk category. He’s been in custody since June 24.

“My submission is that he can be made subject to the highest tariff of a community-based disposal, given the time he’s spent in custody.

“He acts impulsively while under the influence of alcohol.

“He’s been working with all the resources available to him (in custody) to help address his difficulties and he’s now at a stage where he’s had time to reflect on these matters. He’s spent around five months in custody.”

Sheriff Desmond Leslie told Pettigrew: “I am prepared to deal with this with a non custodial sentence.”

Pettigrew was sentenced to a 24-month community payback order, which involves supervision and he must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the community, to be completed within the next six months.

Pettigrew was also made subject to a restriction of liberty order, which requires him to be within his home address between the hours of 7pm and 7am for the next four months.

He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for the next five years. A review of Pettigrew’s order will occur on February 27.