A senior citizen has been put on the sex offenders register after he smooched shocked shoe shop staff – twice.
James Coutts had been getting his shoes repaired when he got the urge to plant a kiss on the cheek of a woman who worked in the shop.
Just a few days later, when the the 87-year-old returned again to check up on his footwear, he did the same to another member of staff, pulling her towards him and pecking her on the face.
And the second woman was so upset by the widower’s behaviour that she later quit her job.
The over-passionate octogenarian previously pleaded guilty at Aberdeen Sheriff Court to two counts of sexual assault after giving the female staff members the unwanted attention.
Sentence had been deferred on the pensioner until yesterday for the preparation of reports.
Coutts was placed under the supervision of social workers for the next six months and is also subject to the notification requirements of the sex offenders register for the same period.
Defence agent Gregor Kelly said that Coutts had been “lonely” since his wife died around 25 years ago but would have not gone any further than a peck on the cheek.
Mr Kelly said: “The report suggests that there was no pre-planning.
“Mr Coutts is a lonely and elderly gentleman who crossed the boundaries of socially acceptable behaviour.
“He does not present as a sexual predator.
“These were not ladies who knew him.
“I’m fairly sure he’s had his first and only brush with the law at the age of 87.”
Referring to one of the women, Mr Kelly added: “She left her job and she was extremely upset.”
The court also heard that Coutts, who had to use a hearing aid loop during court proceedings, had been recently diagnosed with coronary heart disease.
The OAP was getting his shoes repaired at the shop in Royal Deeside and had gone in to check if they were ready, when the incidents occurred on August 6 and August 9 last year.
He admitted sexually assaulting the two women, who cannot be named for legal reasons, by pulling them towards him and kissing them on the cheek.originally said Coutts had pulled the women towards him “by the small of the back” but guilty pleas were accepted after this part of the charges were deleted.
Sheriff Edward Savage said he was satisfied that a community payback order with a six month supervision requirement would be the most appropriate way to deal with the case.
Mr Coutts declined to comment outside court after his sentencing yesterday.