WILLIAM NICOLL AND SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULT IN PERTHSHIRE

A pensioner with a troubling history as a sex offender has once again found himself at the center of a serious criminal case in Perthshire, this time for an alleged assault that occurred at a local fast food restaurant. William Nicoll, aged 75, is known to have previously been registered as a sex offender following a bizarre and disturbing incident involving a horse.

In 2013, Nicoll was placed on the sex offenders register after it was discovered that he had been caught with his hand inserted into a horse’s backside in a field near Crieff. The incident shocked those who observed it, and when confronted by the owner of the animal, Nicoll reportedly stated, “I'm very lonely,” a comment that further highlighted his troubling behavior. The court at the time was informed that the horse’s owner was “physically sickened” by Nicoll’s actions, which demonstrated a clear disregard for both animal and societal norms.

Fast forward to recent events, Nicoll appeared before Perth Sheriff Court last week to address allegations of inappropriate conduct towards a young woman at a McDonald's on Dunkeld Road, Perth. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including twice slapping the woman's bottom and making physical contact by touching her shoulder.

According to the prosecution, fiscal depute Andrew Harding recounted that on the day of the incident, May 23 of this year, Nicoll approached the teenager and initiated a brief conversation by greeting her with a “hello.” The court was told that after engaging her in conversation, Nicoll proceeded to tap her twice on her left shoulder. As he was walking away, he then slapped her bottom with an open palm. The entire episode was quickly reported to the police, who responded promptly to the incident.

The court proceedings revealed that the police investigation led to Nicoll’s admission of the offenses. The case was adjourned, with Sheriff Euan Duthie deciding to defer sentencing until July 13 to allow for the preparation of background reports on Nicoll’s history.

Additionally, authorities are considering issuing a non-harassment order to prevent Nicoll from making contact with the victim in the future, aiming to protect her from further distress or intimidation.

William Nicoll's criminal record is marked by his early incident involving the horse, which involved repeated insertion of his hand into the animal’s rear end and occurred in a field near Crieff. The court at that time heard that he was unconcerned about the approaching children and the horse's owner, maintaining that he was “very lonely” amid these bizarre behaviors.

As the case progresses, the court is set to determine the appropriate sentence for Nicoll, who faces significant penalties for his recent actions on May 23, as the legal process continues in Perthshire.