PROPERTY DEVELOPER TO PAY TEEN HE GROPED AT DUNFERMLINE WETHERSPOONS
A property developer who sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl in a Dunfermline Wetherspoons on new year’s day has been told to pay the teenager £2,000.Giedrius Ambrazevicius was previously found guilty by a jury of groping his victim near the main entrance door of the city’s High Street premises in the early hours of January 1 2022.
The 40-year-old from Lithuania, who was on a trip to Scotland with his family at the time, had denied the allegation and lodged a special defence of consent.
He appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court this week for sentencing.
Sheriff John MacRitchie fined Ambrazevicius £10,000 and ordered him to pay £2,000 in compensation to his victim.
He was also put on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.
Sheriff MacRitchie acknowledged the seriousness of the offence but highlighted Ambrazevicius’ lack of previous convictions and positive contribution to society by running a “successful company which supports others”.
He also noted a social work report assessed Ambrazevicius as a low risk of future offending and recognized that prison or doing unpaid work in Scotland could have “financial consequences” for his family, his business and those who rely on it.
The sheriff told him: “I have given you a chance today to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.
Please ensure you take it.” During the trial, the now 19-year-old victim described how Ambrazevicius put his arm around her shoulder, asked for her door number, and then groped her, attempted to kiss her, and put his hand over her clothing.
She said she was “terrified” and shouted for help from a friend outside, and that Ambrazevicius's actions made her feel “disgusted, scared”.
Ambrazevicius claimed the act was consensual and happened spontaneously, but was found guilty of sexual assault after a three-day trial.
