EAST KILBRIDE SEX OFFENDER MARCUS DONALD SENTENCED FOR ATTACK ON TEENAGE GIRL

In December 2018, a disturbing incident unfolded in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, involving a man named Marcus Donald, who was convicted of attempting to sexually assault a 15-year-old girl. The assault occurred shortly after the girl had been out with her friends and was on her way home. Donald, who also resides in East Kilbride, followed her after she disembarked from a bus, setting the stage for a terrifying ordeal that would leave the community shaken.

According to court reports, Donald approached the teenage girl on the street, just a short distance from her residence. He initially tried to engage her by asking, “Can I get your number?” The girl, feeling uneasy and uncomfortable with his approach, chose to ignore him and continued on her way. However, Donald persisted and followed her, which caused her to quicken her pace in an attempt to escape. Despite her efforts, Donald managed to catch up to her, grabbing her and forcefully pushing her to the ground.

The young victim, visibly distressed, pleaded with her attacker as he tugged at her leggings, attempting to assault her. She desperately shouted for help, crying out, “please don’t,” and called for her parents. The court was told that she was only about two minutes away from her home at the time of the attack. Her screams and cries for help were heard by her father, who was nearby. Hearing his daughter’s distress, he immediately rushed outside to intervene.

When her father confronted Donald, the attacker was seen standing over the girl, attempting to pull at her clothing. The father shouted at Donald to leave his daughter alone, which caused Donald to flee the scene. The incident was captured on CCTV footage, which showed Donald in close proximity to the girl on the bus and later following her on foot. It was also revealed that Donald had called a taxi after the attack, and the driver recalled him being “breathless” as he entered the vehicle.

Following his apprehension, Donald was charged and pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with intent to rape. During the court proceedings at the High Court in Glasgow, the prosecution described the attack as “terrifying,” emphasizing the violence used during the assault. The judge, Lord Burns, sentenced Donald to two years and four months in prison. Additionally, he ordered that Donald be monitored for a further two years upon his release, and he was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely. The judge remarked that the sentence would have been approximately three and a half years if not for the guilty plea, underscoring the seriousness of the offense.

In his sentencing remarks, Lord Burns highlighted the gravity of the attack, stating, “You carried out a terrifying attack on a 15-year-old girl at night. You resorted to violence to try and rape her. It was fortunate her parents were close by and could go to her assistance.” The court’s decision reflects the community’s concern over such predatory behavior and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals from sexual violence.