Golspie sex offender assaulted police officers when he was arrested during routine check

A convicted sex offender attacked two police officers who made a routine visit to his Golspie home to check on him.

Inverness Sheriff Court was told that 24-year-old Aaron Gunn, of Tower Street, had been placed on the Sex Offenders Register on October 22, 2021, but he admitted he failed to register his address with the authorities within the statutory three days.

Under the terms of that legislation, Gunn is regularly monitored by specialist police and fiscal depute Alison Wylie told Sheriff Sara Matheson that two officers went to his home on September 19 this year to review his internet enabled devices - his mobile phone and two X boxes - as per a court order.

The court heard that they discovered three user names about which he had not notified the police, in breach of his notification requirements.

Mrs Wylie continued: “He stated that he had only started using them two days prior to the visit, which would be within the timescales of the requirements.

“However, device checks confirmed that he had been using them for months. He was informed the devices were being seized and that he was being arrested.”

Both officers were upstairs on his landing at the time and one was pushed by Gunn on the upper body, causing him to fall backwards. Gunn then ran at the other officer and pushed her out of the way.

“She attempted to take control of his arm and he responded by swinging his arm forward, causing her to nearly fall down the stairs. She lost her balance due to the impact at which point he pushed her, causing her to fall against a wall,” the fiscal added.

Sheriff Matheson heard that Gunn initially failed to be compliant with the officers, running into the kitchen saying he was not going to be arrested. But he eventually complied with them and apologised.

Gunn admitted assaulting one officer to injury of her chest and assaulting the other.

Mrs Wylie concluded: “The conduct of the accused resulted in the two detectives being placed on modified duties and had an impact on policing sex offenders across the north of Scotland.”

Sheriff Matheson deferred sentence until January 28 for a background report and acceded to defence solicitor advocate Shahid Latif’s request to release his client on bail, as he had been on remand for three months.