President of Rabbie Burns' club quits after groping spree at boozy party

Jul 6 2008 By Rob Fairburn

THE president of the world's biggest Burns Club sexually assaulted two women during a drink-sodden party.

Jimmy Nelson, 64, put his hand down the top of a 54-year-old carer and fondled her breasts on the dance floor.

Then in the committee room, while bouncing a 46-year-old shop assistant on his knee, he placed his hand up her dress and indecently assaulted her.

Moments earlier she had flashed her breasts at him after someone had pinged her bra strap.

Married Nelson was only appointed president of Hawick Burns Club in the Borders - billed as the largest in the world with more than 1000 members - a year ago.

Despite the sex pest allegations, he continued in the prestigious post until three weeks ago when he was voted off at the club's annual general meeting.

Nelson, of Hawick, claimed the women were drunk and had made up the allegations because of an internal club row.

But on Friday he was found guilty of the two assaults which occurred during a mammoth drinking session at the social club last Ne'er Day.

Jedburgh Sheriff Colin Miller ordered background reports and will sentence Nelson next month.

The first victim described how she had gone to the club with her husband around midday on January 1 and had been drinking vodka and coke.

She went upstairs to the dancefloor around 4pm and got Nelson up to dance.

The woman said: "I was wearing a basque, a black strapless top and trousers.

"He asked what held it up and I said bones which make it keeps its shape.

"He said he wanted to see what they were like and put his hand down my top touching my breasts.

"I said, 'That's enough of that' and just walked away."

The incident was witnessed by club member James Callaghan, 45, although he admitted to having drunk 10 pints of beer at this point.

He said: "She was on the floor with Mr Nelson and I saw his hand go down her top."

The woman said she kept quiet as she did not want to ruin the day.

But after hearing about the other incident she told her husband and other club members and when she got home she phoned the police.

The incident involving the other woman happened in a "sexuallycharged atmosphere" in the club's committee room.

She described how there had been talk of a sexual nature and shortly before the assault she had exposed her breasts to Nelson and two other people saying: "Why not go the whole hog?" after someone had pulled at her bra strap.

The married woman admitted she was bouncing on Nelson's knee and had pulled up her skirt so she could straddle him.

It was then that he placed his hand up her skirt.

The woman said she jumped off and shouted "F*** off Jimmy, you dirty b******."

She said Nelson had told her he had not had sex for four years but she said that was no excuse.

The victim described herself as a "bit tipsy" and admitted that she had downed several bottles of Smirnoff Ice.

She said: "I am ashamed at what I had done but he should not have touched me. I felt disgusted."

The victim spoke to the club secretary to complain but he said it was too serious to be dealt with by the club and told her to go to the police.

One club member said: "What happened that day was out of character for the man and obviously drink is to blame."

No one from Hawick Burns Club was available for comment yesterday.

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