Court hears ex-SNP councillor 'groped teenager at foodbank'
Mark Kerr, now of Wishaw, denies a total of 12 charges involving six males between 2010 and 2020.
A court's heard a teenager was groped at a food bank by a former SNP councillor.
The man claimed he was touched on the bum when he was 19 by Mark Kerr at The Hub community centre in Croy, North Lanarkshire, in May 2020.
He also stated that on another occasion Kerr grabbed his arms over his shoulders and touched him on the arm.
The man added that he also received texts messages from him.
Kerr is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow accused of sexually assaulting the man.
He is also accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards him.
The court watched a recorded police interview with the then teenager in 2020.
He stated that he knew Kerr as he worked in the local shop.
The man claimed that Kerr was someone that he “trusted.”
It was stated in the interview that the pair exchanged messages with each other.
Kerr is said to have sent messages such as “Geez a kiss”, “there is room for you in his bed” and “night night sexy lad.”
The man told the officers: “He was taking it too far.”
He claimed that the pair later worked together during the pandemic at the food bank at a building owned by North Lanarkshire Council.
The man recalled being in a room filling boxes with stock when Kerr touched him with his hand.
Advocate depute Simon Gilbride asked where Kerr touched him.
The witness replied: “On the backside.”
Mr Gilbride: “What did he do?”
The witness: “I don’t know if it was a swipe or a pat.”
A second occasion was heard when Kerr was apparently sitting in an office at the food bank.
The man said: “He took my arms and put them over his shoulders and stroked my arms.”
He added that the incident lasted for “a couple of seconds.”
The man stated that he felt like crying when recalling the incident and if he ever saw Kerr again he would walk out the way.
The man later told David Taylor, defending, in recorded evidence that he told his mum after other allegations came to light.
Kerr, now of Wishaw, denies a total of 12 charges involving six males between 2010 and 2020.
Charges include the rape of a man and an attempted rape of a teenager.
The trial, before Judge Douglas Brown, continues.