News In Focus
17 August 2006
Sheriffs failed to put sex offender on register
A man who appeared twice at Perth Sheriff Court after threatening to rape two teenage girls was mistakenly left off the sex offenders' register, it emerged yesterday.
Robert King, 47, should have had his name added to the register in January after admitting the offence, which involved a 14-year-old schoolgirl and her friend.
However in two court appearances different sheriffs each failed to do this and King was able to move freely around the country for three months without having to inform police of his whereabouts. The error was finally picked up in April.
Mr King, now of Maidstone, Kent, was appearing for sentence. Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said the case concerned him and he was unable to explain why Mr King was not put on the register when he first pleaded guilty.
Sentence was again deferred.