A “predatory” Highland man who had sex with a vulnerable 14-year-old girl will be sentenced next month.
Angus Francis, 27, of Ross Place in Fort William, appeared before Sheriff William Gallacher at Dumbarton Sheriff Court yesterday.
Francis was previously found guilty by a jury at Oban Sheriff Court of having sex with the girl at various locations in Oban in 2012 and 2013 when she was 14 and 15, and he was 22.
Following the majority verdict, a social work report was produced on Francis prior to his appearance for sentencing.
Sheriff Gallacher said: “He [Francis] has said things in the course of the interview that may have assisted him in the case.
“I now wonder whether I need to obtain a psychiatric report. I think that would be of benefit.
“I ought to be properly informed before I make my decision.
“The authors of this initial report take the same perspective as I do from the report.
“I’m inclined to adjourn further for a psychiatric assessment.
“I assume you grasp what I am trying to do in all of this, Mr Francis?”
“Yes”, replied Francis.
The hearing was adjourned until a psychiatric report could be produced.
Francis will be sentenced by Sheriff Gallacher on November 1.
The sheriff earlier told Francis: “Given the persistent nature of your predatory and selfish approach, I cannot visualise anything other than a custodial sentence.”
The 19-year-old woman told the court that she met Francis in a pub in Oban when she was 14.
She said: “When I was 14 I was going through a really hard time. I was being bullied in school. I didn’t have many friends my own age.”
During the trial Francis claimed that the girl had told him she and 14, and that he believed her.
She continued: “He knew I was 14 years old. He knew fine well how young I was.
“He knew what year I was in at school. When I first met him I told him I was 14.
“Last year I came to the realisation that it was not right. I was a very vulnerable person and he saw that and took advantage of that.”
