JOHN SHOVELIN PORT GLASGOW PINK KNICKERS FLASHER STRIKES AGAIN AT INTU BRAEHEAD MALL IN RENFREW

In March 2019, John Shovelin, a 40-year-old man from Port Glasgow, found himself once again at the center of a disturbing series of indecent exposures and inappropriate behavior targeting women in and around the Paisley and Renfrew areas. His latest actions involved deliberately exposing himself to female shoppers at the popular shopping centers, including the intu Braehead mall in Renfrew, prompting serious concern among the public and authorities alike.

Shovelin’s pattern of disturbing conduct has a troubling history. Previously, he was convicted and served time for similar offenses, including a notorious incident over a decade ago when he was sentenced to 22 months in prison for flashing while wearing women’s underwear. His past crimes involved exposing himself to women and girls in Glasgow city centre, with CCTV footage capturing him revealing his pink underwear to groups of women outside Princes Square, as well as targeting individuals on Sauchiehall Street, Springfield Court, and at a KFC restaurant. His history of sexual misconduct and public indecency has marked him as a dangerous individual, especially given the repeated nature of his offenses.

Most recently, Shovelin was arrested after he committed a series of indecent acts at the intu Braehead shopping mall in Renfrew. On February 24, he was caught exposing his private parts to a female customer at Ann Summers, and shortly afterward, he returned to the same shopping center to target another woman at New Look. During these incidents, he deliberately left changing room curtains open, exposing himself to unsuspecting shoppers. Although charges of making inappropriate sexual comments to the victims were dropped, the acts of public indecency and exposure were enough to warrant serious legal action.

Prosecutor Claire Rowan detailed how Shovelin headed to the changing rooms but intentionally left the privacy curtains open, targeting women in a calculated manner. His actions echoed a previous incident roughly 18 months earlier, when he cornered a woman in the toilets of Paisley’s Wallace Bar and Grill. During that earlier assault, he followed her into the bathroom, pulled down his trousers, and revealed a pink thong while covering his eyes with one hand and pointing to his crotch with the other. Despite the severity of that offense, which was recognized as having a significant sexual element, he narrowly avoided a jail sentence at the time.

Sheriff Colin Pettigrew, who presided over the earlier case, expressed concern about Shovelin’s behavior, noting his prior convictions and the seriousness of his latest actions. He indicated that the repeated nature of his offenses and his history of sexual misconduct warranted strict legal measures. As a result, Shovelin was remanded in custody and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register following his latest arrest.

Shovelin’s history of offending is extensive. In addition to his previous 22-month jail term, authorities seized a trunk full of pink underwear following his spree of indecent acts in Glasgow between February and June 2009. During that period, he targeted women and girls in various locations, including outside Princes Square, Sauchiehall Street, Springfield Court, and a KFC outlet. His pattern of behavior demonstrates a persistent and troubling fixation on exposing himself and making inappropriate sexual comments in public spaces.

The community and victims remain deeply concerned about his potential to reoffend. One woman, a victim in the latest incident, publicly expressed her outrage, stating: “What he did to me was absolutely vile. It’s disgusting that he’s been allowed back out on the streets. This man is a danger to the public. He should be locked up.”

John Shovelin, a father of two, is scheduled for sentencing next month, and authorities continue to monitor his case closely, given his history and the serious nature of his recent conduct.