‘Not proven’: Thug who dragged woman into Fife pub toilet acquitted of sex attack

 

A woman was dragged into the toilets of a Dunfermline pub by a man she had met just a short time earlier. 

John Middleton, from Aberdeen, then caused a disturbance at the woman’s home. 

However, after a trial a jury delivered a ‘not proven’ verdict on a charge that Middleton sexually assaulted the woman. 

Middleton (21), currently detained at Polmont Young Offenders Institution, was on trial at Dunfermline Sheriff Court. 

He was found guilty of a charge that on 18th May at the Old Inn, Kirkgate, he assaulted a woman by seizing her by the arms and forcibly pulling her into an area containing toilets. 

The jury delivered a ‘not proven’ verdict on a charge that he sexually assaulted the woman in her home. 

Middleton admitted a third charge that also on 18th May at her house in Dunfermline and at Dunfermline police station he repeatedly shouted, swore, made threats of violence towards the woman and police officers and repeatedly made racist and abusive remarks. 

After the verdict, the court was told that Middleton is currently the subject of sexual offences prevention order. 

He is also on an ASBO as a result of anti-social behaviour. 

There are strict conditions on the orders imposed in Aberdeen banning him from consuming alcohol. 

Middleton decided to travel out of Aberdeen and come to Dunfermline for the first time for a drinking session when the offences took place. 

The pub incident was caught on CCTV and appeared to show both Middleton and the woman were heavily intoxicated. 

The two of them later went to the woman’s home where it was alleged that he sexually assaulted her. 

When police were called, he made threats to the woman and the officers who attended. 

Sheriff Charles MacNair called for reports and Middleton was remanded in custody until sentencing on 21st November.

 

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