GRAHAM PATERSON FROM MOTHERWELL CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ON IRISH TOURIST IN SCOTLAND

In October 2018, a man from Motherwell named Graham Paterson was found guilty of sexually assaulting a visiting Irish tourist. The incident occurred after the woman, who was on a night out in Motherwell with her boyfriend in October 2017, found herself in a distressing situation following an argument with her partner. She attempted to contact her boyfriend for help but discovered that her phone was dead and had been lost in the unfamiliar surroundings of the town.

Desperate for assistance, she approached Graham Paterson, aged 49, seeking directions to find a taxi. Instead of offering genuine help, Paterson allegedly tried to lure her to his flat and subsequently assaulted her. The woman managed to raise the alarm, and police were able to trace Paterson through CCTV footage, leading to his arrest.

During the trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court, Paterson pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexual assault with intent to rape. The victim was compelled to give her testimony from behind a screen, describing the harrowing experience. She explained, “I was over here from Dublin. I didn’t recognize where I was, my phone was dead and I was distraught. I bumped into someone and asked where to get a taxi, I didn’t know the man, but he looked smart and was friendly.”

She continued, “He asked if I was okay and I said I needed to go home. He said not to worry and pointed me to a black car with no markings, claiming he would get me a taxi. He was stalling me from turning the corner, and when I tried to leave, he grabbed me around the waist tightly. I tried to push him away, but his grip tightened, and he pressed against me. His demeanor changed completely when I attempted to escape; he was no longer friendly but appeared angry, leading to a struggle. I slapped him, and he slapped me back. He clearly didn’t want me to leave. I managed to get away, but I was left traumatised. It felt like two different people—one who showed me to the taxi and another who turned aggressive when I said I wanted to leave.”

Paterson admitted that his behavior was ‘shocking’ but claimed he was only trying to kiss the woman because he thought she ‘fancied’ him. He stated, “I have held my hands up to most of the charge. I behaved in a shocking way that night, but not to the extent that is being said here. I thought she might have fancied me because she commented on my appearance when I first met her, but that was wrong. There was no plan; I was only trying to get her to the station. When I pushed her against the wall, I was hoping for a kiss from her. There was no intention to rape.”

Following the trial, a jury convicted Paterson of the charges. Sheriff Marie Smart ordered him to be placed on the sex offenders’ register but deferred sentencing to await further reports. His bail was continued pending the next steps in the legal process.