ALAN SMITH SHOCKINGLY GROPES WOMAN IN COWDENBEATH MORRISONS SUPERMARKET

A disturbing incident unfolded at a Cowdenbeath supermarket, where a woman was subjected to unwanted physical contact on two separate occasions. The perpetrator, 64-year-old Alan Smith, was later interviewed by police and attempted to dismiss his actions by claiming he was “having a laugh.” He further stated that the young woman involved must have been “in a bad mood not to have seen the funny side,” showing a blatant disregard for the seriousness of his behavior.

The incident was captured on CCTV footage, which played a crucial role in the subsequent court proceedings. The footage clearly depicted Smith approaching the female employee from behind within the Morrisons store located at Raith Centre in Cowdenbeath. In the video, Smith is seen repeatedly touching her on the inner thigh, an act that constitutes sexual assault. After each contact, he steps back briefly before repeating the inappropriate gesture, demonstrating a pattern of misconduct.

Smith, who resides on Maxwell Crescent in Cowdenbeath, appeared before Dunfermline Sheriff Court on the Monday following the incident. During the hearing, the prosecution, led by depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf, detailed the events and presented the CCTV evidence to the court. The court was informed that Smith admitted to the assault, which took place on January 27 of the previous year.

In his statement to police, Smith dismissed the incident as a joke, claiming that his actions were meant to be humorous. However, the court did not accept this justification, recognizing the severity of the offense. Sheriff Richard McFarlane ordered that reports be prepared for sentencing, which is scheduled for October 6. Additionally, Smith was placed on the sex offenders' register, reflecting the gravity of his misconduct and the potential risk to the community.

This case highlights the importance of CCTV evidence in addressing sexual misconduct and underscores the ongoing need for vigilance in public spaces to protect individuals from such unacceptable behavior.