AARON WATT SHOCKS PERTH WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT AT JAMES STREET HOME
A man who previously worked as an instructor at an outdoor activities centre near Dunkeld has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a sleeping guest at his residence in Perth.The incident, which took place in the early hours of December 17, 2022, has sent shockwaves through the local community and raised serious concerns about trust and safety.
According to court proceedings, Aaron Watt, aged 24, was employed at the Dalguise Activities Centre near Dunkeld at the time of his arrest.
The assault occurred at his home on James Street in Perth, following a Christmas night out with a group of friends, including the victim, who was in his 20s.
The court heard that Watt had invited the victim back to his house after a night of socialising in the city centre, where they had enjoyed a meal and visited several pubs and clubs.
Watt’s home was described as a short walk from the last pub they visited.
The group had initially found one man asleep on a sofa, while Watt’s girlfriend was in a spare room.
The defendant had offered his own bedroom to the victim, explaining that he intended to join his girlfriend in the spare room.
The victim, feeling tired, had agreed and fallen asleep under the covers.
However, the situation took a disturbing turn in the early hours.
Just after 5am, the victim was awakened by the sensation of a hand inside his underwear.
The court was told that the victim, overwhelmed with fear, lay motionless and pretended to be asleep during the assault.
It was only when he felt Watt’s stubble that he recognized who was performing the act.
Watt engaged in sexual acts on the victim using his hand and mouth for approximately 15 minutes, all while the victim kept his eyes closed and tried to remain as still as possible.
At one point, the victim opened his eyes briefly to see Watt performing a solo sex act before Watt left the room.
The victim quickly pulled up his clothing, turned onto his side facing the wall, and waited for Watt to return.
About five minutes later, Watt re-entered the room wearing a T-shirt, climbed into bed, and fell asleep, snoring loudly.
Seizing the opportunity, the victim left the house and contacted his mother at around 5:40am, becoming hysterical as he recounted what had happened.
He also confided in a friend, who then drove him home from Perth.
The police were subsequently called to investigate the incident.
DNA evidence played a crucial role in the case, with forensic analysis revealing Watt’s saliva on the victim’s body, confirming his involvement in the assault.
During the court hearing, Watt admitted to sexually assaulting the victim while he was asleep and unable to give consent.
Social workers had initially recommended a fine for Watt, considering him a first-time offender.
However, Sheriff Alison McKay described the assault as a “gross violation” and made it clear that a community sentence would be inappropriate given the severity of the crime.
In his defense, solicitor Linda Clark highlighted that Watt had no previous convictions and was in a supportive relationship with his girlfriend, who remained supportive throughout the proceedings.
She also mentioned that Watt had little memory of the night’s events, though he accepted the victim’s account.
Watt’s legal representative suggested a community payback order as an alternative to imprisonment, emphasizing his remorse and embarrassment.
Despite these arguments, Sheriff McKay expressed her strong disapproval of Watt’s actions.
She described the incident as a serious sexual offense involving a breach of trust and a gross violation of the victim’s rights.
The sheriff noted the impact statement from the victim, which she described as “very sad reading,” and stated that she was not satisfied that a community-based sentence would be appropriate in this case.
Consequently, Aaron Watt was sentenced to 15 months in prison.
Additionally, he will be required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, reflecting the gravity of his misconduct and the need for ongoing monitoring and protection of the community.
