A man who groped two teenagers on a bus while it moved along Aberdeen’s main street has been placed under supervision for three years.
Matthew Connon appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday to be sentenced for carrying out two sex assaults on a 14-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl on January 9 this year.
The court previously heard the youngsters and some friends were on the bus from Bridge of Don heading into the city centre when the assault happened at about 9.30pm.
When the bus stopped at the Castlegate, 53-year-old Connon boarded the vehicle, which was nearly empty apart from the children who were sitting at the back.
Fiscal depute Alan Townsend said Connon walked directly towards them, and asked one of the children to move so he could sit down.
He added: “During the bus journey along Union Street, the accused asked the others some questions about where they went to school, what they did in their spare time and where they lived.
He then turned to the complainer and said ‘Are you gay? You’re hot.’ ”
Mr Townsend said Connon then placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder and stroked his right leg halfway down his thigh, before doing the same to the girl.
As the boy stood up to leave, Connon grabbed his bottom and the teen pushed him away.
The children reported the incident to the bus driver, who stopped at Holburn Junction and refused to let Connon leave until the police arrived.
Defence agent Gregor Kelly previously told the court that his client was “highly intoxicated” on the night in question and stated it was the first time he had consumed alcohol in over a year.
He said Connon, of Flat B, 4 Park Road, Aberdeen, accepted that his conduct was “entirely wrong” and that the incident must have been “terribly concerning” for his young victims.
Yesterday Sheriff Alison Stirling ordered that Connon take part in the Moving Forward, Making Changes programme designed for sex offenders.
She also placed him on the sex offenders’ register for three years, during which time he will be under supervision.
