BRIAN MCLAREN AIRDRIE LANARKSHIRE BUS PERVERT BANNED FROM CONTACTING YOUNG WOMEN

In November 2019, a disturbing incident involving a bus passenger from Airdrie, Lanarkshire, drew significant attention from local authorities and the community. The individual, identified as Brian McLaren, aged 52, was involved in an alarming episode on a bus traveling through Motherwell, where he engaged in inappropriate behavior in the presence of two teenage girls, both aged 15.

According to reports, McLaren was seen by the two young girls with his trousers around his knees, his jacket draped over his private parts, and his arm moving in a rapid, suggestive manner. Despite their pleas for him to cease his actions, he ignored their requests and continued his behavior. The situation escalated when the bus driver became aware of the incident and took action, prompting McLaren to flee the scene.

Footage captured by CCTV cameras installed on the bus provided clear evidence of McLaren’s inappropriate conduct. The footage showed him staring at the two girls during the journey, with his behavior clearly indicating an intent to perform a sexual act. The incident took place in the town of Motherwell, situated within Lanarkshire, and the distress caused to the young victims was palpable.

Following the incident, McLaren was taken to trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court. He denied intentionally engaging in any sexual activity in front of the two girls during the event in December. His defense claimed that he was attempting to fix his trousers after a button had come off, which he attributed to an increase in his weight. To support his version of events, McLaren showed police officers a needle and thread found beside a pair of trousers missing a button when they arrived at his residence.

Despite his explanations, the court found him guilty. Sheriff Shiona Waldron presided over the case and chose not to impose a jail sentence, despite McLaren’s history of previous convictions for similar incidents. The sheriff emphasized the credibility of the witnesses, particularly the two teenage girls, and expressed skepticism about McLaren’s account, noting that “lightning doesn’t tend to strike twice in the same place.”

One of the girls testified during the trial, recounting her experience: “We sat just in front of him at the back and were pretty close to him. It wasn’t until a few moments later I turned round and saw him take off his belt. I thought it was strange and turned round again, and his trousers were down at his knees, with a jacket covering his private parts. I said something to him, and he left very quickly. I can’t remember what I said, but I was angry and told him to leave.”

McLaren, however, remained defiant, claiming that he was merely trying to pull up his trousers, which had come loose because the button was missing. He insisted, “I was just trying to pull them up and I pulled them up tight as I could, but there was nothing there to hold them because the button was away.” Despite his protests, the court’s decision was clear, and McLaren was ordered to stay away from females under 18, effectively banning him from making contact with young women in the future. This case highlights ongoing concerns about public decency and the importance of safeguarding minors from inappropriate conduct in public spaces.