A registered sex offender has gone on trial accused of breaking the terms of a court order banning him from approaching unaccompanied women.
Stephen Stewart, 46, formerly of Bridgeview Drive, Inverness, denies communicating with the two female neighbours at their homes on June 20, in breach of a Sex Offenders Order.
He also pleaded not guilty at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in Bridgeview Drive and at Burnett Road Police Station on June 25 and assaulting a police officer by spitting on him at the police office.
The two young women told a jury that Stewart knocked on their doors and windows.
The court heard that the incidents emerged when police investigated a report of a disturbance in the street five days later.
Constable James Oliphant said he was called to Stewart’s home on June 25 following reports of the disturbance. The police left but returned after calls about two men fighting in the street.
Constable Oliphant said: “Stewart was with another man and both were quite drunk. Mrs Stewart refused to make a statement but I was concerned about her because she was elderly and frail. Stewart was very vocal and abusive and threatening.
“He was detained and arrested and taken to the police station where he continued to shout, swear and behaving in a threatening way.”
Sales assistant Katie Wilson, 28, of Bridgeview Drive, told the jury that Stewart went to her house five nights before the alleged disturbance.
She said: “I think he had been drinking. He was saying that he couldn’t wake up his mum and he was locked out. He was looking for help waking her up. I was at home alone with my young son. I got a fright but he was not aggressive.”
Ms Wilson said there was nothing she could do to help him so she locked the door.
Elisha Gilham, 24, also of Bridgeview Drive, described how she heard Stewart shouting ‘Ma let me in’ outside his mother’s house on the same night.
Then she heard knocking on her bedroom window and front door. When she looked out, she saw Stewart.
Questioned by depute fiscal Michelle Molley, Ms Gilham said she did not phone the police because she felt a bit stupid.
The Crown closed its case and Ms Molley told Sheriff Margaret Neilson that she would not be seeking a conviction on the assault charge on the police officer.
The trial continues.
