Elderly man placed on sex offenders register for indecently assaulting carer

An elderly man has been placed on the sex offenders register after he admitted indecently assaulting a carer while she was trying to help a stroke victim.

The care worker was assisting a wheelchair-bound woman when 66-year-old Eric Ross lunged forward, unbuttoned her polo shirt and put his hand inside.

Ross, of Logie Crescent, Perth, admitted sexually assaulting the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at an address in Perth on August 11 this year.

He admitted unbuttoning her top, placing his hand inside it and touching her indecently.

Sentence was deferred on Ross for the preparation of a report.

Procurator fiscal-depute John Malpass said the carer had been attending to the stroke victim, who was paralysed, and was writing up her notes when Ross attacked.

Mr Malpass said: “The carer wears a uniform which consists of a polo shirt with three buttons at the neck. She had the top button open but the two remaining buttons were closed.

“She was carrying out her caring duties.

“She was using the work surface to balance her notes and bent over to write them. Whilst making her notes she became aware of a hand appearing and going towards the neck of her shirt.

“Ross managed to undo one button before she reacted and made him retreat, but moments later he came forward again, undid the last button and stuck his hand down her shirt.

“She shouted again at the accused and he stepped back, giving her enough space to run past him.”

Mr Malpass said the carer phoned her office and was told to lock herself in her car and wait for help, but she then managed to flag down a passing police patrol car.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis formally placed Ross on the sex offenders register and deferred sentence until October 12 for a social work report.