Thug sex offender chased and battered women after he thought they called him ‘pervert’

Two women were chased down in the street and battered by a convicted sex offender after he heard them use the word “pervert” during a conversation.

William Bannigan, 49, flew into a rage after mistakingly thinking the women were talking about him, chasing them into a shop and dragging one of his victims to the ground by her hair, the Daily Record reports.

Bannigan, of Rattray, Perthshire, admitted assaulting and injuring Denise O’Brien and Jody Jackson by punching them on the head and body at Scotmid on June 30 last year.

Despite admitting assaulting and injuring the two women, Bannigan was allowed to walk free from court on Thursday, July 14, because he had “stayed out of trouble for a number of years”.

Fiscal depute Andrew Harding told Perth Sheriff Court: “At 6.05pm witnesses were walking to the ATM outside Scotmid. The accused was on the other side of the road.

“They were talking about a person in the area and the term ‘pervert’ was used. The accused overheard and he stopped and stared at the witnesses.

“He did walk on a short while and then turned back and ran towards them. They ran into the shop and tried to get into the storeroom to get away. The accused followed them in.

“The accused subjected them to a flurry of punches, punching both in the face and body. He took hold of Miss Jackson’s hair and pulled her to the ground before leaving.”

Want all the latest shocking news and views from all over the world straight into your inbox?

Read More:  Sardinian sand theft leaves dozens facing fines of up to €3,000

We’ve got the best royal scoops, crime dramas and breaking stories – all delivered in that Daily Star style you love.

Our great newsletters will give you all you need to know, from hard news to that bit of glamour you need every day. They’ll drop straight into your inbox and you can unsubscribe whenever you like.

You can sign up here – you won’t regret it…

Police were contacted by shop staff and Ms O’Brien, 39, was found to have sustained a cut lip, while 22-year-old Ms Jackson was left with a bump on her forehead.

Bannigan, of Rattray, Perthshire, admitted assaulting and injuring Denise O’Brien and Jody Jackson by punching them on the head and body at Scotmid on 30 June last year.

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said his client had taken offence when he overheard one of the women saying “there are perverts everywhere” at a volume he could clearly hear.

He said Bannigan had been convicted in 2012 and despite an unsuccessful appeal had never accepted that he should have been found guilty of the offence.

“The consequence of that in a small town is that he has been subject to a significant level of provocation by way of things said against him,” Mr Holmes told the court.

“He was walking along minding his own business. There were only three of them in the street and it was quite obvious they were using conversation he was able to hear, using the word pervert.”

Sheriff Neil Bowie ordered former church volunteer Bannigan to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and said: “This was appalling behaviour against members of the public – however you feel you were being spoken about.

“The only question is whether to send you to custody or not. You appeared to have stayed out of trouble for a number of years, which for you is a saving grace.”