STEPHEN KAY SHAMES PAISLEY AND LINWOOD WITH SHOCKING FLASHING INCIDENTS AT SHOPPING CENTRE AND SWIMMING POOL
In a disturbing series of events that have shocked the communities of Paisley and Linwood, Stephen Kay, a 46-year-old man with a history of sexual offences, has been sentenced to prison after a pattern of indecent exposure targeting young girls.The incidents, which occurred over a span of several weeks, involved Kay deliberately exposing himself in public places, including a busy shopping mall and a local swimming pool, causing distress and fear among the victims and witnesses alike.
The first reported incident took place at the Linwood On-X Baths, where two young girls, aged eight and eleven, were swimming in the lazy river area.
According to court proceedings, the girls noticed Kay standing nearby with his back against a wall.
As they swam underneath him, they observed that Kay had pulled his swimming trunks to one side, intentionally exposing himself.
The girls, frightened and shocked, quickly left the area and informed a lifeguard about what they had seen.
The lifeguard then contacted the pool manager, who conducted a search for Kay but was unable to locate him at the time.
Authorities later reviewed CCTV footage, which helped identify Kay and led to the circulation of his description to the police.
Kay, a former Royal Navy sailor with 23 years of service before establishing his own plumbing business, has a troubling criminal record that includes previous sexual offences.
He has been legally barred from working with children due to past convictions.
Despite this, he continued to engage in inappropriate behaviour, which eventually led to his identification and arrest.
The second incident occurred at a Paisley shopping centre, specifically within the New Look store at intu Braehead.
On July 25, three 12-year-old girls were shopping when they noticed an adult male, later identified as Kay, behaving suspiciously.
One of the girls saw Kay pull down the front of his trousers, exposing himself to the group from a distance of approximately 12 to 14 feet.
The girls immediately alerted each other and then a store employee, who approached them and was informed of the incident.
Security personnel were promptly notified, and CCTV footage confirmed Kay’s involvement.
Investigators also traced Kay’s vehicle to the shopping centre, which helped establish his presence at the scene.
During the court hearing, the prosecution highlighted that Kay’s actions were part of a disturbing pattern.
Prosecutor Ian Meacock emphasized that Kay’s choice of victims—young girls—was deliberate, as he believed they were less likely to fight back or report him.
The court was told that Kay claimed he targeted children because he was too frightened to approach women, asserting that he was not sexually attracted to children but sought the shock value and thrill from exposing himself.
Defence lawyer Michelle Skelly attempted to mitigate Kay’s actions, suggesting that his behaviour was driven by fear and a desire for attention rather than sexual attraction.
She argued that Kay’s family stood by him and that he consciously chose to target children to elicit reactions he felt he needed.
However, the judge, Sheriff David Pender, was unequivocal in his condemnation.
He stated that Kay’s actions demonstrated a calculated attempt to exploit the vulnerability of young girls, knowing they were less likely to resist or report him.
As a result of his convictions, Kay was sentenced to seven months in prison and was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of ten years.
Throughout the proceedings, Kay showed no visible emotion, underscoring the seriousness with which the court viewed his offences.
The case has left a lasting impact on the victims and has raised ongoing concerns about safeguarding and the risks posed by individuals with a history of sexual misconduct in the community.
