Sheriff destroys nightclub after partygoer falls prey to sex attacker when she is prevented from returning

A sheriff slammed a nightclub yesterday after a vulnerable woman fell prey to a sex attacker shortly after staff refused to let her in to collect her phone and money.

Sheriff Tom Hughes said it was “shocking that a nightclub would do this to a young woman” as her attacker was found guilty.

The 20-year-old left Glasgow’s Bamboo nightclub for some fresh air but was refused entry despite having her phone, money and friends present, it was reported hearing.

She was approached by a good Samaritan – Matthew McLellan – who offered to help her.

Instead, he drove her to the sixth floor of a parking lot, where he launched a brutal sexual assault that was only foiled when a real rescuer came to his aid.

Following the guilty verdict, Sheriff Hughes said the jury at Glasgow Sheriff Court clearly understood how vulnerable the woman was.

He told the court: “In my role I have had several experiences of young women being excluded from nightclubs in similar circumstances.

“No one seems to care how they are going to get home – but they are happy to take their money, feed them alcohol – but are not prepared to make arrangements for them to have their phone or their money.”

CCTV shown to the jury followed McLellan, 50 – who was already on the sex offenders register – as he walked with the woman through the streets to the NCP car park near Glasgow Central station on April 15.

There he leapt, seizing his victim, struggling violently against her and pressing against her.

Witness Jennifer Ford saw the attack as she pulled into the parking lot to pick up her car and go home after a shift.

McLellan then left the scene, while Ms Ford drove the woman to hospital.

The jury found McLellan guilty of sexual assault with injury.

After the verdict, the hearing heard that he had been convicted by the High Court of sexual assault two months before this attack.

He was made the subject of a community payback order and the sex offenders registered for the previous offense but was not jailed.

That left him free to do it again in April.

In May he was recalled to the High Court for the previous offense and sentenced to 40 months.

Sheriff Hughes said Ms Ford “deserved significant praise” for her actions in helping the woman and should be “commended”.

He called McLellan “a danger to young women in our society” and said he was considering sending the case to the High Court for sentencing, which was postponed until next month.

McLellan, who appeared in court while in custody, has been remanded in custody in the meantime.

Bamboo Nightclub has been contacted for comment.