Blind man groped woman after binge drinking sessions

Published on Thursday 20 November 2008 09:08

A BLIND man plied a woman with vodka before sexually assaulting her when she passed out.

John Bray, 61, groped his semi-conscious victim twice after sharing alcohol binges with her.

The woman – now 39-years-old - had stayed at Bray's house but had no sexual relationship with him.

And it was only when she told her boyfriend about the second attack that he urged her to go to the police and Bray was arrested.

Today at Edinburgh Sheriff Court Bray, of West Pilton Avenue, was ordered to sign on the sex offenders register after admitting two charges of sexual assault.

Bray had preyed on her after drinking vodka with her on two separate occasions.

Fiscal depute Tessa Bradley said: "On both occasions the accused and the complainer drank a substantial quantity of vodka.

"She woke up to find the accused with his hands inside her clothing."

Bray claimed that after the first attack between 2002 and 2003, which the woman did not report immediately, he went to his GP who referred him to a three month counselling course.

In September this year, the same trap was used to assault her again.

Miss Bradley said the complaiant awoke to find the accused with his hand inside her clothing.

"The complainer was upset and told her partner about it before police were informed," she said.

Bray's solicitor, Kenny Macfarlane, said his client had gone to see his doctor after the first incident but admitted both the attacks as soon as police confronted him.

He said: "He has been very frank in dealing with this."

Sheriff Mhairi Stephen placed Bray on the sex offenders register before deferring sentence for reports.

He was bailed and will appear again in January.