CHARLES GOWANS DODGES JAIL IN DUNDEE SEX ABUSE CASE AT SPANISH RESORT AND LOCAL ADDRESSES
In a recent case heard at Dundee Sheriff Court, Charles Gowans, a 69-year-old resident of Osborne Place in Dundee, was convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses involving two young children.Despite the gravity of his actions, Gowans was spared a custodial sentence and instead received a community-based punishment.
Gowans' offending history includes an incident that took place abroad during a holiday in Spain in October 2016.
During this trip, he was found to have sexually touched a child under the age of 13 in front of the child's mother, an act that shocked those present and added to the severity of his charges.
The court was informed that this incident was not isolated to his time abroad, as Gowans also committed similar offenses at two different addresses within Dundee itself.
Between August 28, 2014, and May 16, 2017, Gowans engaged in multiple acts of sexual touching involving a different child under 13 at various locations in Dundee.
These repeated offenses over nearly three years demonstrated a disturbing pattern of behavior that deeply concerned the court and the community.
During the proceedings, Sheriff Derek Reekie highlighted the risky nature of Gowans' conduct, noting that both incidents in Dundee occurred in the presence of other adults, which indicated a reckless attitude towards the potential consequences and the safety of the children involved.
The court also heard that Gowans initially responded with indignation when confronted with the allegations, denying any wrongdoing.
His evasive responses during police questioning further cast doubt on his credibility and raised concerns about his honesty.
Following the preparation of social work reports and further legal proceedings, Gowans returned to the dock for sentencing.
Sheriff Reekie reflected on the evidence and the reports, emphasizing the seriousness and abhorrent nature of the offenses.
He acknowledged the breach of trust involved and the potential harm caused to the victims.
Despite the severity of the crimes, Sheriff Reekie concluded that Gowans was assessed as low-risk for reoffending.
Based on this assessment and after careful consideration, the sheriff decided against imposing a custodial sentence.
Instead, Gowans was sentenced to a community payback order with three years of supervision, a six-month restriction of liberty order preventing him from leaving his home between 7pm and 7am, and was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work.
Additionally, Gowans was placed under a conduct requirement that prohibits him from approaching or contacting children under 16 unless supervised by an adult over 21 or if contact is unavoidable or inadvertent.
To monitor his compliance, he was also placed on the Sex Offender’s Register for a period of three years, ensuring ongoing oversight of his activities and potential risk to the community.
