A man accused of groping a girl aged under 16 years has been acquitted following a jury trial in Stornoway Sheriff Court.
Norman Macinnes, 44, was alleged to have carried out sexual activity with the young teenager.
He faced a single charge of trying to kiss her, holding her body, touching her naked backside and getting into bed with her on various occasions in 2011.
At one point, lawyer Angus Macdonald argued the trial should be stopped, saying there it lacked corroboration and thus there was no case to answer, but the sheriff rejected his submission.
Today, Macinnes, who is from Lewis but now lives in Doncaster, was unanimously acquitted
by the 15-
Earlier, the court heard that the girl had gone to bed sick after Macinnes gave her a large vodka and coke.
Procurator fiscal David Teale claimed he got under the covers with the young teenager but was caught by another person who “dragged him out of the bed.”
However, the witness “backtracked” and was now “covering up” for Macinnes, suggested the fiscal.
Another time, Macinnes asked for a cuddle of the girl but slid his hand down to her backside, it was alleged.
The jury heard that Macinnes was convicted of indecent flashing 21 years ago. He
also told police he had cross-
He had talked about this sexual behaviour to the girl which suggested “he had sex on his mind,” said the fiscal.
Defence lawyer Angus Macdonald told the jury it was “important” to note the sex allegations only arose after the underage girl was reported for allegedly having sex with her older boyfriend, especially when she had earlier opportunities to tell police or social workers.
He said neither the girl or her boyfriend were credible witnesses, maintaining they did not tell the truth.
On the cuddle incident, the teenager told police Macinnes only touched her back, said the solicitor.
While Macinnes “went overboard” in telling the police all about his past, the girl’s boyfriend refused to say anything, he added.
Being quizzed by police officers about allegedly having sex with an underage girl may have prompted the accusation against Macinnes, said the lawyer.
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