JOSEPH STEWART FROM WESTER ROSS FACES JAIL AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT AND STALKING CASES
| Red Rose Database
Wester Ross Sexual Abuser
In a serious legal development at Inverness Sheriff Court, Joseph Stewart, a 23-year-old resident of Mackenzie Square in Aultbea, Wester Ross, is facing a potentially lengthy prison sentence following a series of disturbing criminal acts that spanned several years. The sheriff has issued a stern warning that Stewart could be sentenced to a substantial period behind bars due to the gravity of his offenses.
Stewart’s criminal record includes a particularly troubling incident involving a 14-year-old girl. According to court reports, he entered her bedroom and engaged in inappropriate physical contact by touching her through her clothing. He then undressed his lower half and attempted to coerce the young girl into touching his genitals. When she rejected his advances, Stewart reportedly left the room in a huff, indicating a dismissive attitude towards her boundaries. This incident was part of a broader pattern of predatory behavior that has now come to light.
The Procurator Fiscal, Alison Young, detailed the case during the court proceedings, emphasizing the seriousness of Stewart’s actions. The defendant appeared in custody and admitted to a total of seven charges, which spanned from October 2015 to January 2021. These charges included four counts of stalking different women, breaching bail conditions by making contact with one of his victims, sending sexually explicit messages, and causing fear and alarm to another woman by drunkenly entering her home.
One of the victims recounted an unsettling encounter where Stewart kissed her, and after she pushed him away, he responded with laughter and slapped her bottom. The court was informed that these stalking offenses occurred between December 2019 and January 2021. Stewart’s pattern of harassment extended over several years, with multiple women being targeted through unwanted messages, physical visits, and intrusive behavior.
In December 2019, Stewart began targeting a third woman by sending her unsolicited messages and attempting to arrange meetings, which led her to block him on social media. A few weeks later, she received calls from an unknown number, and Stewart appeared at her doorstep, leaving her feeling unnerved and shaken enough to contact the police. The court heard that nearly a year later, in December 2020, another woman woke up to find Stewart intoxicated and mumbling about having fun together inside her house. She managed to push him out before he could do further harm.
Further incidents occurred in January 2021, when Stewart left a note apologizing to this woman through her door. Just a few days later, on January 17, at around 1 a.m., she was awakened by banging on her bedroom window. Despite her telling him to go away, Stewart persisted in making advances, continuing to bang and make comments towards her. Additionally, a fifth woman was contacted by Stewart on December 21, 2020, through unwanted sexual messages. She made it clear she was not interested, and after blocking him on Facebook, Stewart visited her residence multiple times on the same night, banging on her door before driving away.
On the same night, Stewart’s disturbing behavior extended to a sixth woman, who was awakened early in the morning by his request to stay the night, claiming his mother had thrown him out. She allowed him to sleep in her spare room but was subjected to uncomfortable questions about riding, and Stewart left only to return half an hour later, ringing her doorbell and knocking on her window. She chose not to answer, feeling vulnerable and alarmed by his persistence.
In light of these serious offenses, Sheriff Gary Aitken has deferred Stewart’s sentencing until March 10, pending a background report and an assessment of his suitability for a sex offender rehabilitation program. The court also ordered Stewart to be placed on the sex offenders register. Due to Stewart’s failure to appear at two previous trial hearings and his dismissive attitude towards the court, he was remanded into custody once again. The sheriff is also considering the imposition of a non-harassment order to further protect Stewart’s victims from future harm.
Stewart’s criminal record includes a particularly troubling incident involving a 14-year-old girl. According to court reports, he entered her bedroom and engaged in inappropriate physical contact by touching her through her clothing. He then undressed his lower half and attempted to coerce the young girl into touching his genitals. When she rejected his advances, Stewart reportedly left the room in a huff, indicating a dismissive attitude towards her boundaries. This incident was part of a broader pattern of predatory behavior that has now come to light.
The Procurator Fiscal, Alison Young, detailed the case during the court proceedings, emphasizing the seriousness of Stewart’s actions. The defendant appeared in custody and admitted to a total of seven charges, which spanned from October 2015 to January 2021. These charges included four counts of stalking different women, breaching bail conditions by making contact with one of his victims, sending sexually explicit messages, and causing fear and alarm to another woman by drunkenly entering her home.
One of the victims recounted an unsettling encounter where Stewart kissed her, and after she pushed him away, he responded with laughter and slapped her bottom. The court was informed that these stalking offenses occurred between December 2019 and January 2021. Stewart’s pattern of harassment extended over several years, with multiple women being targeted through unwanted messages, physical visits, and intrusive behavior.
In December 2019, Stewart began targeting a third woman by sending her unsolicited messages and attempting to arrange meetings, which led her to block him on social media. A few weeks later, she received calls from an unknown number, and Stewart appeared at her doorstep, leaving her feeling unnerved and shaken enough to contact the police. The court heard that nearly a year later, in December 2020, another woman woke up to find Stewart intoxicated and mumbling about having fun together inside her house. She managed to push him out before he could do further harm.
Further incidents occurred in January 2021, when Stewart left a note apologizing to this woman through her door. Just a few days later, on January 17, at around 1 a.m., she was awakened by banging on her bedroom window. Despite her telling him to go away, Stewart persisted in making advances, continuing to bang and make comments towards her. Additionally, a fifth woman was contacted by Stewart on December 21, 2020, through unwanted sexual messages. She made it clear she was not interested, and after blocking him on Facebook, Stewart visited her residence multiple times on the same night, banging on her door before driving away.
On the same night, Stewart’s disturbing behavior extended to a sixth woman, who was awakened early in the morning by his request to stay the night, claiming his mother had thrown him out. She allowed him to sleep in her spare room but was subjected to uncomfortable questions about riding, and Stewart left only to return half an hour later, ringing her doorbell and knocking on her window. She chose not to answer, feeling vulnerable and alarmed by his persistence.
In light of these serious offenses, Sheriff Gary Aitken has deferred Stewart’s sentencing until March 10, pending a background report and an assessment of his suitability for a sex offender rehabilitation program. The court also ordered Stewart to be placed on the sex offenders register. Due to Stewart’s failure to appear at two previous trial hearings and his dismissive attitude towards the court, he was remanded into custody once again. The sheriff is also considering the imposition of a non-harassment order to further protect Stewart’s victims from future harm.