Published: Wednesday, 4th June, 2008 12:00
Schoolboy is found guilty of sex assault
By Court Reporter
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David Callum outside Stirling Sheriff Court.
AN Alloa schoolboy sex pervert, who preyed on a five-year-old girl in a toy tent, was warned that he faced jail when he appeared in court last Wednesday.
David Callum ignored the child’s screams and pleas for him to stop as he assaulted her while he was supposed to be babysitting.
Callum, a fifth year high school pupil, wore “mosher” clothing throughout a two-day trial at Stirling Sheriff Court.
The child, now six and in her first year at primary school, gave evidence behind opaque screens shielding her from her attacker.
The court heard Callum (17) had been left in charge of the child for little more than an hour while her mother and grandmother went out to view a flat which was for rent.
The child said she’d been allowed by her mum to sleep in the tent in her bedroom on the evening of the assault — June 20 2007 — because the light nights had been keeping her awake.
After reading her a bedtime story, Callum lifted her fairy nightdress and put his fingers into her.
The girl said, “I screamed but he still kept doing it.
“I don’t know how long it lasted, but I was shouting for my mummy.
“Then he spoke to me and told me not to tell my mum, but I needed to tell my mum.”
The girl’s 25-year-old mother said she returned to the flat to find her daughter “quite distressed”.
Callum, who was standing outside her bedroom door, seemed panicky and eager to leave. He told the girl’s mother, “Thank God you’re here.”
Then the girl shouted “David, you’ve broken my heart” through the bedroom door.
The mother said, “I thought it was quite a strange comment.” But soon afterwards her daughter went to sleep.
First thing next morning, however, she told what had happened. Police were called and the girl was examined in hospital.
An experienced officer from Central Scotland Police’s child protection squad took the the girl’s statement and described it as “definite, concise and consistent”.
Callum, now of Mercat Wynd, Alloa, formerly of Bank Street in the town, denied using lewd and libidinous practices and behaviour towards the girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.
A jury of nine women and six men took less than an hour and a quarter to find him guilty by majority verdict.
Sheriff Andrew Cubie deferred sentence until 2 July for social background reports and an assessment of his suitability to perform community service as a possible direct alternative to jail.
Releasing the first offender on bail, he warned him that he could face custody.
The sheriff said, “You must be aware of the seriousness of this offence, and all sentencing options are open.”
Defence solicitor Grant Markie said, “He is under no illusions as to the gravity of this matter.”
David Callum was also placed on the sex offenders’ register.
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