GORDON SHIELDS BUSTED IN FIFE CHURCH BREACHING SEX OFFENDER ORDER
In December 2017, a serious breach of a court-mandated restriction occurred involving Gordon Shields, a 64-year-old sex offender from Fife.Shields, who has a history of violating court orders related to his previous sexual offenses, once again disregarded a court-imposed Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) that strictly prohibits any contact or communication with females under the age of 16.
On this occasion, Shields was found to have entered a church in Kirkcaldy, specifically the Redeem Christian Church of God located in Victoria Gardens, where he engaged with young girls during guitar lessons.
The girls, aged seven and eight at the time, were participating in the church’s activities when Shields was present.
This marked the third time he had breached the order since it was issued in 2014.
Shields’ presence at the church was not incidental.
Court proceedings revealed that he had previously attended the church regularly, despite being aware of the restrictions placed upon him.
The church’s pastor and elders were aware of Shields’ criminal background, which added a layer of concern regarding his repeated visits.
Police officers responded to an unannounced visit to Shields’ residence, where he admitted to attending the church frequently.
During the police interview, Shields confirmed that he had shown the girls how to play a guitar chord, an act that further violated the terms of his SOPO.
Depute fiscal Susan Lumsden informed the court that Shields’ actions took place between September 9 and October 18 at the Kirkcaldy church.
The court was told that Shields had contact with the young girls during this period, despite the clear restrictions against such interactions.
The court also heard that the church staff, including the pastor and elders, were aware of Shields’ criminal history, but the children and their parents were not.
Legal representatives highlighted the gravity of Shields’ breach, emphasizing that such violations are considered very serious, especially given the presence of children.
Branislav Sudjic, representing the prosecution, pointed out that Shields had shown the girls how to play a guitar chord, an act deemed inappropriate given his background.
Sheriff Charles MacNair addressed Shields directly, noting that this was his third conviction for breaching the SOPO.
The sheriff expressed concern over the potential impact on the children, who might see Shields as a church member and then encounter him elsewhere, unaware of his criminal history.
The sheriff emphasized that the church staff might have been aware of Shields’ background, but the children and their parents would not have been.
As a result of his repeated violations, Shields was sentenced to eight months in prison, with the sentence backdated to October 30, the day he was taken into custody.
The court’s decision underscores the seriousness with which such breaches are regarded, especially when they involve vulnerable children and individuals with a history of sexual offenses.
