Man on trial accused of sexual offences against two girls
A man has gone on trial before a jury at Lerwick Sheriff Court accused of a number of sexual offences.
Basil Edward Beatty, 64, of North Roe denies 12 offences said to have been committed between 4th October 2010 and 4th October 2014.
They include allegedly sexually assaulting two underage girls at an address in North Roe.
He is also accused on one occasion of intentionally causing a girl to participate in a sexual act and intentionally exposing his genitals in a sexual manner to underage girls.
Beatty denies indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards the girls and assaulting a girl with a belt.
He is also accused of assaulting a girl, threatening her with violence and threatening to harm her with a gun if she did not return repeatedly to his home. He is also charged with engaging in a sexual activity with or towards a girl on various occasions.
The court heard evidence today, via video link, from one girl who cannot be identified for legal reasons.
She said Beatty would ask that she and another girl visit his home for sweeties and juice.
“At first it was just like sitting in his kitchen, having drinks, sweeties and crisps,” she said.
“We started a game called ‘tickle time’. I didn’t know at the time it was wrong or anything,” she said.
The “game” involved Beatty putting his hand up their tops or down their trousers, she said.
Things escalated, she said with Beatty taking showers and locking the front door when the girls were in his home and walking around naked and asking them for hugs.
She said one time when she was left alone with Beatty he grabbed her by the wrists and forced her to perform a sex act.
Defence agent Gregor Kelly said his client’s position was that there had been no sexualised words, there had been no showers, no hitting with belts, no threatening with a gun and no forcing of the girl to perform a sex act.
He found several discrepancies with the girl’s police statement and evidence heard by the court and said police did not find a gun at the address. Beatty denies the charges against him.
The trial continues.
