Man who exposed himself to a female outside pub in Galashiels walks free from court
Last updated 11th Jan 2024
A court's heard a man who exposed himself to a female outside a pub in Galashiels has no memory of what happened - because he'd unwittingly eaten magic mushrooms given to him by a stranger.
Amal Raziq was found by police lying on the ground outside the town's Salmon Inn on the evening of September the 6th, last year.
He'd approached two people sitting at picnic tables and pulled down his trousers and underwear after being asked to leave.
The 24-year-old international student, who hails from India, pled guilty to a charge of public indecency shortly before his case was due to go to trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court today (Thursday).
But the first offender was given an absolute discharge by Sheriff Peter Paterson, who noted the unusual circumstances which, he said, in effect made him a victim.
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The court heard Raziq - who's studying a Masters in Interior Architecture at Heriot-Watt University - had been feeling depressed after discovering a growth on his neck, and ended up sitting on a park bench after going for a walk.
He was joined by a stranger who chatted to him for around an hour before offering him "something to eat, which appeared home-made".
Raziq's solicitor, Ed Hulme, said: "He was told it would help with his depression."
But, after questioning the taste of it, he was informed it was chocolate infused with magic mushrooms.
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The court heard Raziq, who gave an address at Church Square, Galashiels, was worried about the impact any sentence would have on his student visa - which is due to be renewed in May.
Mr Hulme - who stressed there was no "sexual element" to the incident - pointed out his client had taken out a loan of ÂŁ30,000 to take up the university course, and had already lost his part-time job at McDonald's after details of his arrest first emerged.
An absolute discharge meant Raziq was allowed to walk free from court.
A not guilty plea to a second charge of assaulting another female on the same date, by sitting on her and seizing her by the body, was accepted by the Crown.
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