Semi-naked in cemetery

Dec 24 2010 by Alison Lowson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A BOOZED-UP Perthshire teenager, found in a graveyard with a semi-naked 13-year-old girl, was told this week he needed to address his alcohol misuse.

That will be the focus of an intensive Right Track programme, designed to keep him on the straight and narrow.

John Robertson (17), of Meikle Obney Farm Cottage, Waterloo, near Bankfoot, had his sentence initially deferred on Wednesday until February 3, half-way through the 12-week course.

Sheriff Robert McCreadie told him: “You are mixing with a group of thoughtless, aimless young people who simply believe drinking is what they should do.”

Perth Sheriff Court was told previously that less than an hour after the girl’s frantic mother reported her missing, she was discovered by police in the grounds of the Abbey Church in Coupar Angus, shortly after midnight.

Both had been drinking – and both were in a state of undress.

Robertson was sitting on a bench, with his trousers and boxer shorts down at his ankles.

The girl was on the ground, directly in front of him. She had her pants and tights around her ankles.

Her shorts were also lying nearby on the ground, according to depute fiscal Rebecca Kynaston.

But when asked later by officers what had happened, the 13-year-old said: “Nothing. The pigs came ‘cos mum reported me missing.”

Robertson admitted an amended charge of attempting to have unlawful sex with the girl in the cemetery. He had previously denied having sex with the under-age youngster on July 18 or 19 this year.

Ms Kynaston told the court that the complainer and the accused had been at her home on the evening of July 18 and had left about 6.30pm.

“They were apparently sober at that time,” she said. “They remained in each other’s company and later consumed alcohol, so much so that they both became quite drunk.”

About 11.30pm that night, the girl’s mother became concerned after she failed to return home and reported her missing.

“About 12.10am on the morning of July 19, police entered the graveyard at the Abbey Church in the Dundee Road, Coupar Angus,” stated the fiscal.

“They heard voices and saw the accused and the complainer. Believing they had obviously been involved in sexual activity, the accused was arrested by police officers.

“The complainer was returned home to her mother and was thereafter medically examined.”

When cautioned and charged, Robertson replied: “Am I going to jail for it?”

Solicitor Linda Clark said the girl gave a “fairly extensive interview” to police officers.

“She indicated throughout her willingness to be in the company of Mr Robertson. She told police that they had started kissing and it had led on from there.

“When asked to elaborate, she said quite candidly she had removed her own clothing and Mr Robertson had removed some of his.”

Robertson also admitted breaching a 7pm-7am curfew, part of his bail order from the Perth court on August 16.

He had been found in a street in Coupar Angus on December 10.

Sheriff McCreadie warned: “If there’s a further breach of curfew, he faces remand.

“I will not tolerate people of his age wilfully flouting the orders of this court.”