GLEN BUCHANAN CONVICTED OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT IN PITLOCHRY

A court has found Glen Buchanan, a cafe supervisor at Cafe Biba in Pitlochry, guilty after a three-day trial at Perth Sheriff Court of multiple charges related to sexual misconduct. The court was informed that Buchanan repeatedly assaulted four young female employees, including a teenage girl, and sent inappropriate messages via Facebook. The young girl suffered such distress that she attempted to take her own life following repeated sexual assaults by Buchanan, who attempted to justify his behaviour by dismissing it as 'banter,' claiming he had a Benny Hill-style sense of humour. Despite this assertion, he could not justify telling a young teenager to breathe because it 'accentuates the gentle curve of your breasts.' The court convicted him of four counts of sexual assault and three charges of sexual communication intended for his own gratification or to humiliate the victims. A victim impact statement revealed the emotional toll on the victims, with one seeking medical assistance and making an attempt on her life. Buchanan was also convicted of making lewd comments, including one on a coffee order slip that read, 'hot, hot, hot – just like you,' which he claimed was merely meant as fooling around. He admitted to giving an unwanted hug and making inappropriate remarks about women’s clothing and figures. Furthermore, he sent flirtatious Facebook messages to a female employee, expressing that he missed her and feeling unloved, as well as commenting on her physique. Buchanan attempted to defend some of his actions, stating he was trying to help move people out of narrow passages or that he was giving brief shoulder squeezes. Sentencing was deferred to allow for background reports, and Buchanan was placed on the sex offenders register. The court described him as a sexual predator, though he denied such a label, arguing he is not a sexual predator because of his history involving minors. At the time, Buchanan was a supervisor at Cafe Biba, which had since been taken over by new management and rebranded as Pancake Place. The court’s verdict underscores a serious breach of professional and personal boundaries, with significant repercussions for the victims involved.