
Personal trainer guilty of sex attacks in gym for second time
Shane Lawton groped one woman and touched another victim's breasts in latest crimes in Glasgow.
A personal trainer has been convicted of carrying out sex attacks at his gym in Glasgow for a second time.
Shane Lawton, 39, groped a woman during a massage and pressed himself up against her in May 2013.
The former Queen's Guard touched another woman's breasts and bottom during an exercise session in April 2014 and told her he was "checking her muscles".
Lawton was convicted of the sex attacks following a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
They occurred at a fitness studios in on West Regent Street and in the Saltmarket.
The victims in this latest case went to police after Lawton was convicted of preying on three other women in August 2015, including two members of a girl band.
On Friday, Sheriff Daniel Scullion handed Lawton an 18-month community payback order with supervision and told him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.
He also told Lawton he will be tagged for three months and must stay at home between 9pm and 6am as well as putting him on the sex offenders register for 18 months.
The sheriff said he considered the offences "a gross invasion of the victims' privacy and person".
In this latest case, Lawton attacked a 36-year-old woman as he gave her a massage.
She recalled: "He started moving and was massaging my breasts.
"I froze, I didn't know what to do. He then went to my right side and started to press himself against me.
"I thought he obviously wants sex or something.
"I think I just said to him: I'm really uncomfortable can you stop?"
The woman did not tell anyone about what happened as she felt "ashamed" but she called police after reports emerged last year of Lawton's first court case.
Speaking after the guilty verdict, the woman said: "I realised it wasn't just me it was happening to and how serious it was."
Lawton's second victim was groped as she carried out a 'plank' exercise.
The 33-year-old described him touching her stomach and breasts.
Speaking after the trial she said: "I think it's important to come forward - at the time I was too scared because you wonder if you'll be believed.
"Coming to court wasn't a nice thing to go through but it's important in the name of justice."
Lawton, who denied the allegations, was told by Sheriff Scullion as he was found guilty: "I did not regard your evidence... as credible or reliable."