SEAN MELVILLE FROM KIRKCALDY FINED FOR ILLEGAL BANK ACCOUNT AFTER BRUTAL ATTACK

A man with a violent criminal past has been handed a £1,000 fine after he established a bank account without proper authorization while attempting to address issues caused by fraudsters. Sean Melville, a resident of Kirkcaldy, was previously convicted of a serious sexual assault and placed on the Sex Offenders Register in 2012 following a brutal attack on a woman in West Lothian. Despite his registration requirements, Melville failed to inform authorities about a new bank account he had opened, which he claims was done unintentionally.

At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, it was revealed that police were already aware of the account, but Melville had breached the restrictions imposed on him. The court heard that the account was linked to a series of fraudulent activities, prompting police to investigate further. Fiscal depute Matt Piskorz explained that Melville, aged 45, was convicted of rape at the High Court in Edinburgh in June 2012 and sentenced to five years in prison. As part of his sentence, he was legally obliged to notify police of any new bank accounts.

In November 2020, police intelligence indicated that Melville was associated with multiple bank accounts. Checks confirmed that he had failed to disclose these accounts as required by law. When police visited his home, Melville explained that he had a new bank card but was unaware that he needed to notify authorities about it. He stated that he had not realized the necessity of reporting the new account until he received the card.

Melville’s solicitor explained that the issue arose during an attempt to resolve problems with his existing account. The lawyer detailed that Melville had been recalled to prison in August 2016 and was released on July 21, 2020. He was subsequently recalled again for failing to notify authorities about a new partner, which resulted in an additional three-year imprisonment. The solicitor added that Melville had experienced fraudulent activity on his account and was trying to rectify the situation by upgrading his account online, which included accessing live chat facilities. He emphasized that Melville did not realize the new account was created until the new card arrived, at which point he acknowledged he should have notified police.

Furthermore, the solicitor highlighted that Melville had been under significant stress and was prescribed medication by his doctor, which affected his memory, leading to his oversight in reporting the new account. Despite these circumstances, Sheriff Neil Bowie emphasized the importance of compliance, especially given Melville’s criminal history. He remarked that, considering Melville’s previous prison recalls and failure to notify authorities about a new partner, it should have been a priority for him to adhere to the notification requirements.

Melville, who resides on Atholl Terrace in Kirkcaldy, admitted to failing to comply with the notification obligations by maintaining a bank account and a debit card at his home address between October 1 and November 26 of the previous year. The court also noted his earlier conviction for a violent assault on a woman he met through an internet dating site. During that attack, which lasted over three hours, Melville repeatedly asked his victim if she was afraid. He later claimed that his drinks had been spiked during the assault.

The woman involved reported Melville to the police after discovering he was still active on the dating website, raising concerns about his ongoing behavior and compliance with legal restrictions. The case underscores the ongoing challenges authorities face in monitoring individuals with violent criminal backgrounds and ensuring they adhere to legal obligations.