June 2010

Aberdeen man carried out sex attacks on children

A MAN has escaped a prison sentence for sexually assaulting two children at a house in Aberdeen.

Claudio Urquieta carried out the two separate attacks on the youngsters on the same day and at the same address.

The 37-year-old kissed and sexually assaulted one of the children during the attack.

During the second incident Urquieta followed one of the children into a bathroom and refused to leave. He then hugged the youngster before lowering his trousers. Both offences took place on January 5, 2008.

He had denied both charges but was found guilty after a trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Malcolm Garden told Urquieta, who still maintains his innocence, he had considered sending him to prison.

He added: “This is undoubtedly a serious offence and it is made more serious by the young age of the children. In your favour it seems that you did not persist in your conduct.”

He ordered Urquieta, whose address was given in court papers as Jute Street, Aberdeen, to carry out 100 hours of community service.

The sheriff also placed him on probation for three years and ordered him to take part in a sex offenders’ programme.