Douglas Wood steps down from WoodWinters after sexual assault conviction
Douglas Wood – who set up WoodWinters in 2005 – has had to resign as director of the wine merchant after he was found guilty of sexual assault in a Scottish court.
As reported by the Scottish press, Wood was found guilty by a jury last month, but was sentenced at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Tuesday (11 August).
Wood will not face jail time after the jury deleted allegations that he had supplied his victim with a drug, and that the assault had been committed with intent to rape.
Instead, he will do 250 hours of unpaid work, along with being restricted to his home between 8pm and 6am for six months.
He has also been added to the sex offenders register for two years.
It was reported that Wood, who is 51, met his 20-year-old victim in a bar, returning with her to his house in Bridge of Allan, Stirling.
They entered his bedroom, by which point the woman was too intoxicated to consent, and he then sexually assaulted her.
The incident occurred on September 21, 2024.
Wood has continuously denied wrongdoing, claiming that the woman had consented and had not been too intoxicated. He added that as soon as she had asked to leave, he walked her out of his house and to a car where her friends were waiting.
His defender, advocate Graham Macdonald, said that Wood has accepted that he had “lessons to be learned”.
WoodWinters is an award-winning wine and whisky shop founded by Wood in Bridge of Allan in 2005, before expanding to Inverness and Edinburgh. It operates as an importer, wholesaler and retailer of wines and spirits.
Sheriff Craig Harris, who sentenced Wood, was quoted as saying: “I… take account of the impact the conviction will have upon you and your business in which you employ a significant number of people.
“The social work report notes that your professional reputation is a part of that business and you work with a number of high-profile clients.
“You have been placed on the sex offenders’ register.
“You seem to be someone who values their reputation and you had – as the fundraising letters show — been someone who had been highly thought of in charitable circles.”
“Your opportunistic actions will have deep and lasting repercussions on that reputation, both professionally and personally."
Responding to Harpers’ request for comment, Rodney Doig, director at WoodWinters, said: “WoodWinters Wines & Whiskies can confirm that Douglas Wood has resigned from his position as director with immediate effect.
“The existing management team remains in place and is fully focused on maintaining the high standards of service, expertise and professionalism upon which the business has built its reputation. A management buyout process is currently underway.
“The business will be making no further comment on any matters relating to Douglas Wood.”
Keywords:
Search
56-58 Church Walk, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9AN
Registered in England No. 6646125. VAT No. 938 4452 95