SCOTT HERRON FROM AYR JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES NEAR HER FATHER'S FLAT

In July 2017, Scott Herron, a 19-year-old man from Ayr, was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of breaching a strict Risk of Sexual Harm order and engaging in inappropriate conduct near his residence. Herron had been ordered to remain indoors at his address on Mill Street and later at Craigie Avenue, both located in Ayr. Despite these clear instructions, he was caught outside these locations on two separate occasions without any valid reason, leading to his detention.

His legal representative, John Gallagher, addressed the court, describing Herron’s violations as “fairly straightforward.” Gallagher explained, “In the first instance, Herron breached the curfew imposed by the Risk of Sexual Harm order. The mistake he made was failing to notify those supervising him about his whereabouts.” He further added, “The second charge involved him being present at a location where he was no longer welcome, which indicates a disregard for the court’s directives.” Gallagher emphasized that Herron’s repeated breaches demonstrated a lack of understanding or remorse, especially considering he should have learned his lesson after the initial violation.

During the proceedings, Gallagher clarified that he did not believe Herron had a pattern of sexual offending, citing his only significant conviction as occurring in July 2015. On that occasion, Herron was caught on the ground in a block of flats on Ayr’s Duke Terrace by the girl’s father, having engaged in illegal sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16. Herron, then 17, told a witness that “fourteen was the youngest he would go to” when questioned about the girl’s age. Despite this serious offense, he was not placed on the sex offenders register because he was a minor at the time.

Gallagher described Herron as “a young man—an immature young man,” and used the term “ostrich syndrome” to characterize his tendency to ignore his problems and avoid responsibility. The court was told that Herron’s behavior reflected a young man who was burying his head in the sand rather than confronting his issues.

Ultimately, Sheriff Cunninghame sentenced Herron to a total of ten months in prison, with the sentence backdated to April 3, 2017. The court determined that there was no alternative method of disposal, resulting in a four-month sentence at a young offenders’ institution for the first breach and an additional six months for the second. Notably, upon his release, Herron was not ordered to sign the sex offenders register, a decision that drew attention during the sentencing.