Man denies sexual assault of boy, 8, in Scottish pub toilet

The incident was said to have occurred in the Wishaw Malt. Picture: Google

An eight-year-old boy was sexually assaulted by a stranger in a pub toilet, a court heard.

Graham Murray, 38, is on trial accused of abusing the boy while he was on a day out after school with his younger sister, his grandmother and her friend to watch Christmas lights being switched on. The group were having dinner at the JD Wetherspoon Wishaw Malt pub in the Lanarkshire town when the boy went alone to the toilet.

While the boy was in a toilet cubicle, it is claimed Murray knocked on the door, was allowed in and then sexually assaulted him before being disturbed. Another man entered the toilet and took the “terrified” boy back to his family and insisted they leave the pub.

Mr Murray, of Wishaw, is on trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court where he denies a single charge of sexual assault against the boy in November 2015.

Appearing by video link, the boy, now aged nine, said Murray left him feeling scared when he allegedly entered the toilet cubicle.

He added:“I was very scared and I was shaking, I was frightened when he came into the cubicle and I was crying.

The boy’s 53-year-old grandmother said she thought he had been sick when he returned to the table because he was so white.

The trial continues.