Elgin High Street sexual assault sees Cowdenbeath man put on sex offender’s register

A man who seized an unknown 19-year-old woman’s buttocks on a night out has been placed on the sex offenders register.

Paul Neilson, from Cowdenbeath in Fife, was also ordered to complete unpaid work during his sentencing at Elgin Sheriff Court yesterday.

The 44-year-old previously admitted sexually assaulting the 19-year-old on Elgin High Street, with the charge stating that he “did seize hold of her buttocks” on June 29, 2024.

Elgin Sheriff Court heard that Neilson had pleaded guilty after CCTV recordings showed the offence taking place.

Fiscal depute Karen Poke said that the man had been out with friends on a Saturday night when the incident happened.

“Around 2am, the complainant was out with his friends, standing outside Downtown looking up towards the taxi rank,” she added.

Neilson, the court heard, then approached the 19-year-old before seizing her bottom and walking around her on the left side.

Ms Poke added that the woman then “pursued the accused”, which resulted in an “altercation” that the police attended.

The fiscal depute said that Neilson had initially been removed from the area.

However, after his victim told police about the incident, officers found the 44-year-old at the Travelodge in which he was staying.

Ms Poke said the man “made no reply” after being cautioned and charged.

Solicitor Stephen Carty said his client had been “heavily intoxicated” at the time of the incident.

After walking up to his victim, Mr Carty said, Neilson: “momentarily strikes the complainer on the backside”.

He described the man’s actions as a “drunken, spur of the moment thing”.

Neilson had not known who the woman was or her age, Mr Carty told the court, because he “approached her from behind”.

Arguing that a background report on the man was positive, the solicitor described the incident as a “matter of regret” for his client, and a “drunken, silly decision by him”.

The 44-year-old, he said: “Does appreciate the effect it would have had on the complainer.”

“His relationship has come to an end as a result of this matter,” Mr Carty added.

Sheriff Pasportnikov sentenced Neilson to nine months of social work supervision, ordered him to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and added him to the sex offender’s register for nine months.