Man jailed for sexual assault

Content warning: This story contains details of sexual assault. If you have been affected by this issue, help is available.

A MAN who was found guilty of sexual assault following a jury trial last month has been given an 18-month prison sentence.

Stephen Gray, of Walls, will also be made subject to sexual offenders notification requirements for ten years.

The 65-year-old was found guilty by a jury in August of sexually assaulting a woman, while she was intoxicated and unable to give or withhold consent, between 1 March and 31 August 2021. He had denied the charge.

The case called at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday after sentencing was deferred for social work reports.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said he felt there was no other alternative to a custodial sentence.

Lerwick Sheriff Court heard during the trial that the incident occurred on one night while the complainer was in the company of Gray.

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She said during evidence she became “blackout drunk” and did “not really remember anything until the next morning”.

The woman said she woke up naked on a couch with a blanket over her, but then “remembered what I thought was a bad dream”.

She said this “bad dream” was Gray performing a sex act on her.

During questioning she said she “absolutely” did not consent, adding she would not have been in a position to provide consent given her intoxication.

However in a police interview in 2025 which was read out to the court, Gray told officers that the woman had taken her clothes off, saying they could have a “lot of fun”, before allegedly climbing on top of him while he was lying on the couch.

During the interview Gray, who has worked as a fisherman, told police he engaged in the sexual act but believed it was consensual.

At the court on Wednesday, defence agent Tommy Allan reiterated that a special defence of consent was lodged during the trial.

But he said Gray “regrets what happened” and was sorry the complainer was upset by the offence.

He said Gray was deemed to be at low risk of re-offending.

“This is something that is very unlikely to occur again,” Allan told the court.

Sheriff Cruickshank noted the jury’s verdict of guilty, which was achieved through a majority.

He described it as a particularly “grave example” of sexual assault given the charge included being intoxicated and not being able to give consent.

Due to the “nature and the gravity” of the offence the Sheriff said there was no other alternative to custody.

In addition, a five-year non-harassment order prohibiting contact with the complainer was imposed.