Former SNP councillor spared jail over sex attacks on three women

2022-10-20

Former SNP councillor Lewis Ritchie, 38, is spared jail over sex attacks on three women including forcing his tongue in one victim’s mouth and trying to get in bed with another

Lewis Ritchie carried out string of sex attacks on three women between 2016-19
On one occasion the former SNP councillor forced his tongue in victim’s mouth
On another, he forcibly slapped woman’s bottom, leaving bruising, court heard
Ordered to carry out 200 hours’ of community payback following two-day trial

A former SNP councillor who carried out a string of sex attacks on three women has been ordered to carry out 200 hours’ of community payback.

Café owner Lewis Ritchie, 38, was given the sentence following a two-day summary trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

The court heard how Ritchie forced his tongue in one victim’s mouth after demanding ‘a proper kiss’ following an SNP event.

Lewis Ritchie was ordered to carry out the unpaid work over a period of nine months following a two-day summary trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court

Another woman, who was employed by him, revealed how on a separate incident, he began to ‘squeeze past her’ and touched her on the buttocks several times.

She said the accused on one occasion forcibly slapped her on the left buttock and, despite her protesting at his behaviour, he repeated the offence so hard it left bruising.

A third victim revealed how she was sharing an Airbnb in Glasgow with several other women after a political event when Ritchie ‘invited’ himself to stay.

He later turned up drunk at midnight.

During the night, the woman said she woke up to find Ritchie standing over her wearing nothing but boxer shorts and trying to get into bed with her.

He told her he only wanted to ‘cuddle and sleep’, the court heard.

Former SNP councillor Lewis Ritchie, 38, was found guilty of three sex attacks on women at Edinburgh Sheriff Court (pictured)

The woman, who was convinced Ritchie’s motivations were sexual, said his actions had left her feeling ‘violated’ and ‘alarmed’.

Police launched an investigation into the attacks, which took place between April 2016 and October 2019.

Ritchie, who denied charges of sexual assault and threatening behaviour, was ordered to carry out the unpaid work over a period of nine months.

He resigned from the SNP in 2018. Previously he had represented Leith, Edinburgh.

Peter McClelland, Procurator Fiscal for Lothian and Borders, commended all the women for testifying against the former Leith councillor.

He said: ‘This man was in a position of some public standing.

‘The witnesses showed considerable courage in giving evidence against him.

‘We encourage people to come forward and report crimes of this nature.’

Source: Read Full Article