Ex-Highland League star walks free in ‘not proven’ underage sex trial

A former Highland League star who was charged with having underage sex has walked free from court after a jury delivered a not proven verdict.

The jury’s unanimous verdict was met with an angry reaction from the girl’s father in the public benches at Wick Sheriff Court yesterday.

Stevie Cunningham, 27, who previously played for Wick Academy, had pleaded not guilty on indictment to having intercourse with the girl who was 14 at the time.

The case focused on the accused’s understanding to the girl’s age.

He agreed he had had sex with her at his then home in Caithness but told the court that she said she was “16 going on 17”, although the girl maintained there had been no prior discussion about her age.

Earlier on February 19, 2015, Cunningham, now of Murray Avenue, Wick, volunteered to give her a lift home, but after a conversation in the car, they drove to his home where they had intercourse.

The jury took less than an hour to return their verdict.