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ALEXANDER ORCHARD SHOCKS JOHNSTONE WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE AND ESCAPES JAIL
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Johnstone, Alexander Christopher Edward Orchard, a 32-year-old resident of South William Street, narrowly avoided imprisonment after being convicted of a sexual assault that took place during a social gathering in August 2019.Orchard, who was invited along with his boyfriend to a flat-warming party hosted by new neighbors, became the center of a serious legal controversy following allegations of inappropriate conduct. The incident reportedly occurred when Orchard entered a bedroom where one of the party guests was sleeping and engaged in non-consensual physical contact. The victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, was unable to give consent at the time, and Orchard’s actions have been classified as sexual assault.
According to court documents, Orchard admitted to touching the man’s genitals and claimed his actions were motivated by concern for the victim’s well-being. He explained to Paisley Sheriff Court that he believed the man might have been choking on vomit while unconscious, referencing a personal tragedy involving a friend who had died from choking. Orchard stated, “I heard this strange sort of gargling, snoring sound. I wanted to make sure he was okay. I had a school friend who, in his last year of university, choked on his own vomit and died. It was the fact he was making this strange noise from his throat. I wanted to check he was okay and breathing properly. I touched his thigh and shook it, on top of the blanket. I shook it and he woke up.”
During the trial, Orchard maintained that his actions were innocent and that he did not intend any sexual misconduct. He insisted that he only touched the man’s thigh to ensure his safety and was “completely dumbfounded” when allegations of sexual assault were made against him. Orchard also denied entering a second bedroom where another guest was sleeping and performing a sex act, dismissing the claims as “a fabrication.”
The court heard that Orchard, who works as a customer experience manager for an electronics company, had previous convictions for domestic abuse. Despite the seriousness of the charges, Sheriff Hugh McGinty found that Orchard’s background, including his upcoming marriage, good employment record, and the social stigma associated with being a registered sex offender, warranted a lenient sentence. Orchard was convicted of the sexual assault of the first man, but the charge related to the second individual was not proven.
Instead of jail time, Sheriff McGinty imposed a Community Payback Order requiring Orchard to complete 160 hours of unpaid work over the next nine months. Additionally, Orchard will be under supervision by social workers for two years and is required to register as a sex offender for two years. The case has been adjourned until April, when Orchard will return to court for a progress review on his community sentence, highlighting the ongoing monitoring of his rehabilitation and compliance with court orders.