DUNDEE SEX OFFENDER DOUGLAS STEWART FACES JUSTICE OVER MULTIPLE OFFENCES IN DUNDEE AND ANCRUM PLACE
In August 2018, a man from Dundee named Douglas Stewart was issued a financial penalty by a sheriff after failing to adhere to the legal requirements of the sex offenders register.The incident occurred when Stewart, aged 59 and residing on Ancrum Place, was found to have neglected his duty to update police with his latest personal information.
Specifically, between November 4 and November 6 of the previous year, Stewart did not complete his annual notification at the police headquarters located on West Bell Street in Dundee, thereby breaching the conditions set forth by his sex offender registration order.
Following this breach, Stewart appeared before Sheriff Alastair Carmichael at Dundee Sheriff Court, where he was fined a sum of £200 as a consequence of his non-compliance.
The court proceedings highlighted the importance of regular updates for registered sex offenders to ensure community safety and proper monitoring.
However, Stewart’s criminal history in Dundee extends beyond this recent fine.
In January 2014, he was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison for a series of heinous child sex offences committed during the 1990s.
His address at the time was recorded as care of Lawson, Coull and Duncan Solicitors in Dundee.
Stewart had previously admitted to three charges involving lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices and behaviour, which involved abusing children over a period of time.
The court heard disturbing details of Stewart’s misconduct, including the use of a video camera to observe one of his young victims in the shower.
Prosecutor Sue Ruta described how Stewart had plied children with cider and cannabis before sexually abusing them.
One of the victims witnessed Stewart engaging in a sex act, and he subsequently carried out lewd acts on another child.
These offences came to light in 2011, leading to police interviews during which Stewart admitted to using a video recorder to gain a better view of his victims, although he claimed he did not record the images.
During the sentencing, Sheriff Kenneth McGowan emphasized the severity of Stewart’s crimes, noting the involvement of cannabis and the fact that the offences occurred within the victims’ homes.
The sheriff pointed out that the offences spanned over a significant period, which compounded their seriousness.
Despite Stewart’s otherwise law-abiding life since the offences, the court determined that only a custodial sentence was appropriate given the gravity of his actions.
Consequently, Stewart was not only sentenced to three years in prison but was also placed on the sex offenders register for a period of three years.
Further back in November 2013, Stewart was involved in another disturbing case where he supplied young girls, some as young as 12, with cannabis and alcohol before sexually abusing them.
These offences were committed over 17 years prior, with Stewart waiting until the girls were asleep to carry out his acts.
One particularly alarming incident involved Stewart using a video camera to observe one of the victims showering, claiming he used the device to see around corners but did not record any images.
On one occasion, a girl woke up to find Stewart’s hand on her breast, and he was seen engaging in a sex act during police investigations.
Stewart’s actions came to light in 2011, leading to police interviews where he admitted to the offences.
He stated that he had looked at one of the girls through a video recorder to get a better view, although he maintained he had not recorded any images.
At the time of this case, Stewart was 54 years old, and his address was again listed as care of Lawson, Coull and Duncan solicitors in Dundee.
He pleaded guilty to three charges of lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices and behaviour, with the court deferring sentencing until January to allow for social work background reports.
Stewart was also placed on the sex offenders register and released on bail pending sentencing.
