The co-owner of two Callander hotels, Gary Adam, is facing jail after being found guilty of sexually assaulting two female members of his staff.

Falkirk Sheriff Court heard that the 35-year-old used his position of power to intimidate and abuse the women, who were both young. The incidents occurred at the Waverley Hotel and Crags Hotel, which are situated opposite each other on Main Street and both co-owned by Adam.

The first woman, who had only been working for Adam for a week, testified that he made a pass at her while they were playing pool at another pub. She told him she didn't want to lose her job or have sex with him, but he later lured her to the Waverley Hotel's office, claiming she needed a new uniform T-shirt.

Once they were alone, Adam pushed the woman against a wall, put his hand around her neck, kissed her forcefully, and attempted to put his hand down her trousers. He was described as grunting in her ear and threatening to snap her "like a twig". The woman left in shock and disbelief, but Adam later sexually assaulted her again by touching her buttocks while she was bending over.

The following day, the woman gave her notice. In 2020, Adam sexually assaulted another woman while she was working at the Crags Hotel. The woman recounted how he followed her into a walk-in cupboard, locked the door behind them, and pinned her against the wall, attempting to kiss her.

She said she was frozen with fear, but a customer called from the bar, allowing her to escape. Later that evening, Adam, who had been drinking with friends, returned to the hotel and asked the woman for the key to one of the bedrooms. He then texted her demanding she deliver a Peroni beer to the room. After she left the beer outside, Adam grabbed her wrist, dragged her into the room, pushed her onto the bed, and attempted to kiss her.

The woman repeatedly said "no", but Adam refused to give her back her phone, which he had taken from her on the bed. When he finally returned her phone, the text message asking her to deliver the beer had been deleted.

Adam later told the woman that it would never happen again, but three weeks later, he approached her at the Waverley Hotel and asked for a lift home. When she refused, he demanded she stop the car and then climbed over, forced her head back, and forced his tongue into her mouth.

The woman said she was terrified and disgusted and managed to call a random number on her phone, which caused Adam to stop. He asked to be driven the rest of the way home.

After a three-day trial, the jury found Adam guilty of five charges of sexual assault. He claimed that some of the incidents did not occur, and others had been consensual, but the court heard that Adam had perpetrated a pattern of systematic abuse against the women.

Sheriff Christopher Shead placed Adam on the sex offenders register and warned that a custodial sentence would be considered. He will appear again on March 31 for sentencing.