NORMAN HARWOOD ABERDEEN CHILD ABDUCTOR AND COURT ORDER BREACH IN SCANDALOUS INCIDENT
In a troubling development in Aberdeen, Norman Harwood, aged 61, appeared before Aberdeen Sheriff Court to face charges related to a breach of a court-imposed restriction and his suspicious presence at a student accommodation facility.The incident occurred on May 28 of this year, when Harwood was found at the Unite Student Accommodation in Spring Garden, Aberdeen, in a state of intoxication.
Court records confirmed that Harwood was attempting to gain entry into the flats without any legitimate reason, raising concerns given his criminal history.
Harwood’s background is marred by previous convictions for child abduction, including two separate incarcerations for such offenses.
His criminal record also includes multiple breaches of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which was specifically designed to restrict his movements and interactions to prevent further offenses.
The court was informed that Harwood’s presence at the student complex was a clear violation of the court order, which explicitly prohibited him from entering or being near such accommodations.
During the hearing, Harwood’s defense attorney, Les Green, submitted a letter to Sheriff William Summers, asserting that Harwood’s visit to the student flats was not motivated by any sexual intent.
Despite this, the court took note of the breach and the potential risk posed by his actions.
Sheriff Summers chose to defer sentencing until the following month, citing the need for further assessment and considering Harwood’s current detention at HMP Grampian.
Harwood’s criminal history in Aberdeen dates back to at least October 2002, when he was involved in a series of disturbing incidents involving the abduction of two young girls.
According to court documents, Harwood, then 49, was actively seeking a romantic relationship but resorted to violence and intimidation.
He first targeted a 19-year-old girl at a bus stop, subsequently dragging her to his flat and attempting to force her to strip.
When she resisted, he tried to unzip her jacket, but she managed to escape and reported the incident to police.
Less than ninety minutes later, Harwood abducted a 12-year-old girl as she left a phone booth.
The court heard that he threatened her with a knife, saying, “Look, I have a knife, come with me,” which terrified the young girl.
She pushed him away, screamed for help, and managed to run away from the scene.
Harwood was charged with two counts of abduction and admitted to these charges during the proceedings at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Keiran deferred sentencing to allow for further reports to be prepared, highlighting the seriousness of his actions and the ongoing concern regarding his behavior in the community.
