Glen Buchanan 57

Description

A 57-year-old café boss who compared himself to Benny Hill after groping teenage workers has narrowly dodged a prison sentence.

Glen Buchanan's sleazy pursuit of young female staff was partly blamed for the collapse of a restaurant chain and led to one victim trying to commit suicide.

Sheriff William Wood said: "The jury convicted you of all these charges - either sexual assault or causing young people to see sexual communications. At the time, two were children and your behaviour persisted over a period of three years. You were employed in a management position to supervise them and they would have looked to you for guidance and support.

"You have let them down and let yourself down. There was an approximate 30-year gap between you and these young women and children at the time."

He told father-of-three Buchanan that he merited a prison sentence, but noted he was a first offender and that "no physical harm" had been caused to the victims. Buchanan was placed under supervision for three years, and put on the Sex Offenders Register for the same period. He was ordered to carry out 300 hours unpaid work and attend the Tay Project for sex offenders.

He was also placed under conduct requirements, including having to tell social workers if he makes new friends, and put on a six-month restriction of liberty order. He was also told not to approach any of his victims. The young woman who tried to take her own life was one of four female employees at Cafe Biba, in Pitlochry, who were preyed upon by the creepy boss.

He made co-workers lives a misery, repeatedly placing his hands on their shoulders, buttocks and hips, sending sleazy social media messages and giving them unwanted massages, kisses and hugs. Buchanan denied allegations of sexual misconduct, claiming he had a Benny Hill-style sense of humour and attempted to dismiss his conduct as workplace banter.

But he could not justify telling a young teenager to breathe because it "accentuates the gentle curve of your breasts." After a three-day trial at Perth Sheriff Court a jury found him guilty of four counts of sexual assault.

He was further convicted of three charges of written or verbal sexual communications, intended for his own sexual gratification or to humiliate or distress his young victims. Fiscal depute Vicki Bell presented a victim impact statement from Buchanan's youngest victim and said: "This has had a significant impact on her emotional wellbeing."

"She has sought medical support and support from friends and family. The statement includes references to an attempt to take her life as a result of the accused's actions."

One victim told jurors how she quit her job because of Buchanan's relentless conduct. The woman said: "It was an uncomfortable environment. He made comments towards me that made me feel on edge. It was the way he spoke to me. There was a few occasions when he put his hands on me. I didn't feel safe."

Buchanan said he occasionally touched the women on their shoulders and hips but only to move them out the way in a narrow passage. He said: "It was more a case of expedience than anything else. There was always a sense of urgency."

He told the court it was Benny Hill-type banter and denied giving one of the women an unwanted massage. He said: "It wasn't a full massage. I was walking through the scullery, when I saw her doing the dishes. I said: 'You seem to be very stressed.' I just gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze. I would hardly call it a massage."

He also admitted giving the same woman an unwanted hug but said he stepped back when she appeared surprised. The jury heard Buchanan sent five Facebook messages to a female employee in one evening.

He told her "I'm feeling a little unloved" and said he missed her, alongside an emoji face with its tongue sticking out. Another post read: "It's my birthday on Friday, so you can surprise me with something. Your choice."

Buchanan said he sent the messages because he was annoyed she left work without telling anybody. In hindsight, it wasn't the most appropriate manner. I should have waited until we were at work together."

Asked why he mentioned his birthday, he said: "I thought it would be nice for her to buy a birthday present for me."

Ms Bell pointed out: "You are 40 years older than her. You're ancient to her." Buchanan said: "Again, it was a bad choice of words."

The woman did not reply to the messages but reported them to a manager at the cafe, who brought Buchanan in for a disciplinary meeting the next day. Jurors heard one of the women received a lewd comment from Buchanan, written on an order slip.

He wrote a customer wanted their coffee "hot, hot, hot - just like you." He told the court: "I can see how this can be misconstrued. I was just fooling around."

Buchanan, of Bridge of Tilt, tried to dismiss some of his comments as banter, such as when he told one worker she should wear dresses more often. "I was giving her a compliment," he said, adding that he told the same woman she did not need to go to a gym as she had a "perfect figure".

But he accepted he had made a sexual comment to a female employee, when she was a young teenager. "I was trying to do some paperwork and she was asking me: What can I do? I told her 'just go and breathe - it accentuates the gentle curve of your breasts.'

"I saw that she was blushing, I don't know why I said this. Once I said it I knew it was wrong and I apologised to her."

He said: "I understand that I was acting like a complete arsehole that day but that doesn't make me a sexual predator."

Ms Bell told the jury "the accused has told you he has a Benny Hill style sense of humour."

Cafe Biba was part of the Pancake Place chain, which has recently gone out of business. The company's own report of trading placed significant blame on Buchanan's offending for driving away customers. The chain also had a rodent infestation.