A SCOTS poet who carried out a sex attack on a woman in his own home was tagged for 16 weeks today.
Jim Ferguson, 63, groped and kissed the stunned victim at the flat in Glasgow‘s Dennistoun in September 2022.
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Jim Ferguson was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff CourtCredit: PA
The woman – who came to visit Ferguson and his former friend Derek Brown – protested “No” before he backed away.
Creative writing lecturer Ferguson, however, claimed that the incident did not happen.
He instead insisted that he had been the target of a “harassment campaign” after Mr Brown had been kicked out of a poetry club they had been part of.
But Ferguson was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court of the single charge of sexual assault.
Sheriff Vincent Lunny put Ferguson under supervision for 10 months, as well as the sex offenders register, at today’s sentencing.
Ferguson’s tag will keep him indoors between 7pm and 7am.
The court previously heard that Ferguson had initially gone back to his flat with Mr Brown after being out with him.
Mr Brown contacted the woman to come and join them.
The pair were sitting on the opposite couch to Ferguson while they listened to music.
Prosecutor Redmond Harris said in his closing submission: “The woman stated that Ferguson enacted a very quick movement.
I came home to find my nightmare neighbour knocking down my DOOR – he claimed it was his right to do it
“He grabbed her breast, tried to kiss her and placed his tongue in her mouth, then backed away.
“She was shocked and surprised by Ferguson’s actions.”
Mr Brown told the court that the woman “grimaced” and told him “No, Jim” before Ferguson “left abruptly.”
The woman recalled the incident months after it took place due to “flashbacks”.
The woman stated that Ferguson enacted a very quick movement… She was shocked and surprised by Ferguson’s actions
Prosecutor Redmond Harris
Ferguson denied that the incident occurred when he gave his evidence to the court.
Liam Runciman, defending, asked if he sexually assaulted the woman, and he replied: “No, I never have.”
He stated that he had only met the woman three times in 30 years through going to his performances.
Ferguson further claimed that matters arose after Mr Brown was removed as a member of the Glasgow Literary Lounge poetry club.
I reported them in May, and at some point in July the police came to me and charged me with sexual assault, which was a shock
Jim Ferguson
He said: “When we did not [let him back in], the woman and Mr Brown started a campaign of harassment against me and the Glasgow Literary Lounge on social media and in e-mails.”
Ferguson claimed that he went to the police about matters, but was told to deal with it in a civil court.
He added that he had “no knowledge” that the woman had contacted the police about the sexual assault.
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Ferguson said: “I reported them in May, and at some point in July the police came to me and charged me with sexual assault, which was a shock.”
Both Mr Brown and the woman told the court that they were unaware Ferguson had earlier reported them to the police.
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Jim Ferguson was convicted of a sexual assault on a woman todayCredit: Spindrift