Two sex attack victims have bravely told how their lives have been impacted by the way a fast food boss preyed upon them.
Former McDonald’s manager Matthew Blair targeted the two women in 2019, and was this week placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for two years and ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.
His victims have spoken to the Paisley Daily Express to say the punishment does not go far enough to protect society and to encourage victims to come forward.
Blair’s youngest victim was just 17 when he sexually assaulted her.
She told the Express: “I am disgusted by this sentence, to be honest.
“He has scarred me for life and once his 240 hours are up and his two years on the register are complete, he’s a free man.
Don't miss the latest headlines from around Renfrewshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
“I need to live with the constant anxiety of new environments and new situations and how I can protect myself in case something like this happens again.
“I didn’t expect him to go to prison, but I expected him to be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.
“He sexually assaulted me, but he gets to just have two years of his life compromised when the rest of my life has been compromised.
“The way I work with people and trust them will never, ever be the same.”
The Express previously told how Blair was found guilty at trial at Paisley Sheriff Court.
His first victim was targeted in March 2019, when Blair sexually assaulted her as they walked to the bus stop after their shift.
Blair pinned her against a wall and tried to repeatedly kiss her and touch her between the legs while he told her “not to tell anyone.”
This victim, who wished to remain anonymous told us: “I don’t agree with this sentence at all. I think it’s unfair and he shouldn’t be able to be on the streets.
“Two years is also not long enough to be on the register.
“It’s definitely not long enough for what he put myself and another female colleague through as it is something we have to live with for the rest of our lives.
“I can’t walk a certain way anymore as it brings back flashbacks.
“I can’t walk alone at night without feeling scared and anxious and terrified.
“I constantly live my life in fear, watching over my shoulder, scared in case something like this happens again.”
Both of Blair’s victim’s feel they were targeted due to their vulnerability.
Both females had worked with the creep for less than a year when he preyed upon them.
The female he assaulted in March 2019 said: “He betrayed my trust, our friendship and I feel disgusted with what happened.
“He was targeting the younger female colleagues.”
In November last year, the Express told how predator Blair targeted one teenager while she worked in a drive-thru booth.
She gave evidence in court, stating Blair “cupped” between her legs with his hands.
She told us: “I have nightmares, I can hardly sleep and I don’t trust anyone. He will never understand what it’s like to have something like trust to be ripped away from you as a young girl.
“Matthew knew I was vulnerable as my mum had just died and I feel he used me being vulnerable and targeted me.
“He can try and justify it and spin it however he likes to the people closest to him, but they aren’t the people who live with the trauma every day and night.”
Both young women agree the court process was a difficult process.
One said: “It had been postponed a few times, which made me feel angry and upset as I just wanted it to be all over with.”
The other female added: “The court hearing was rescheduled multiple times due to covid.
“I would never report anything like this again.
“I felt like the guilty party throughout the full time of the investigation and felt I had to explain why I did certain things, and the verdict just proves my point.
“Why should I put myself through all the trauma and heartache? For what – 240 hours of unpaid work. It’s just not enough.
“Hopefully, the justice system starts to help victims, instead of justifying the crime with petty and unfair verdicts like this one.”
Download the FREE Renfrewshire Live app now for all the latest news, features and sport in your area. Available on both Android and Apple. D ownload here: smarturl.it/RenfrewLiveSocial
