May 2019 Fife businessman sentenced for child sexual assault A Fife businessman has been sentenced to perform unpaid work for sexually assaulting a young girl and other offences against children. Mark Welsh (52), of the Rosegreen cattery business in Dunfermline, was found guilty of a string of offences last month following a five-day trial. When he returned to Dunfermline Sheriff Court for sentencing, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. The offences against two girls took place at Rosegreen, Carnock Road. He was also found guilty of stalking his former wife. Welsh was convicted of using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards two girls and sexually assaulting one of them, who was aged 12 at the time. He asked them to tell him about their sexual experiences and told a girl that he would kill himself if she did not say she loved him. Defence solicitor Roshni Joshi said the registration requirements would have “a huge impact in terms of the business”. It is now run by his current wife and Welsh, who continues to claim he was innocent, will be an employee there from next month. Sheriff Craig McSherry was concerned that Welsh appeared to be questioning the legal position regarding corroboration following the trial. “I don’t know if he wants to change the law,” commented the sheriff. The charges Welsh was convicted of were: On various occasions between October 15 2008 and October 14, 2010, both dates inclusive, at his home, he used lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards a girl then aged between 14 and 15. Welsh asked her about her sexual experiences, disclosed to her his sexual experiences, sent her electronic messages, stared at her and her buttocks, touched her on the thigh, pulled her from a horse on to the ground, placed his arms around her, touched her on the face, attempted to kiss her on the face and kissed her on the neck. The charge said Welsh asked her to tell him she loved him otherwise he would commit suicide. Also, on various occasions between June 26 and November 30, 2010, both dates inclusive at his home, he used lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards another girl then aged 12. He compelled her to lie with him on the sofa, lie behind her, place his arms around her body, cuddle her, kiss her on the neck, push her on the body, lay his body on top of hers, tickle her on the body and chest and did not desist when asked to do so. Welsh also told her he loved her, asked about her sexual experiences and sent her electronic messages. Thirdly, on various occasions between December 1, 2010 and June 25, 2011, both dates inclusive at his home, he sexually assaulted the same girl as in the previous charge. He compelled her to lie with him on the sofa, lie behind her, place his arms around her body, cuddle her, kiss her on the neck, push her on the body, lay his body on top of hers, tickle her on the body and chest and did not desist when asked to do so. He also directed a sexual verbal communication to her and sent a sexual written communication to her in that he did tell her he loved her, asked her about her sexual experiences and sent her electronic messages. Welsh also harassed and stalked his then wife Gillian Heathcote. He was found guilty of, on various occasions between September 15, 2013, and October 1, 2015, at his home, addresses in Cairneyhill, Crossford and at Inglis Vets, Halbeath Road, Dunfermline and other locations in Fife, engaging in a course of conduct which caused his then wife fear and alarm. Welsh accessed her private social media accounts and messages, repeatedly sent her electronic messages, attended at her places of work with gifts, tracked her movements via a mobile phone app, followed her, sent emails and letters to her places of work and to the veterinary authorities and video recorded her. Sheriff McSherry imposed a community payback order with 12 months’ supervision and 200 hours of unpaid work. Welsh was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for 12 months.