WISHAW MAN STEPHEN MCGOWAN SPARED JAIL AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL IN WISHAW AND NETHERTON

In a case that has shocked the community of Wishaw and the surrounding areas, Stephen McGowan, a 52-year-old man from Wishaw, faced serious allegations related to the possession and download of indecent images of children. Despite the gravity of his actions, McGowan was not sentenced to prison but was instead subjected to a period of supervised community intervention, which will last for three years. Additionally, he has been placed on the sex offenders’ register for the same duration, marking a significant legal consequence for his offenses.

McGowan appeared before Hamilton Sheriff Court on a recent Friday to face sentencing after admitting to two charges of downloading indecent images. The case was brought to light after police officers, armed with a search warrant, raided his residence in Priory Terrace, Netherton, on October 16, 2019. During the search, they seized a mobile phone from his home, which was found to contain a total of 138 images, including 19 classified in the most serious category of child abuse material. Prosecutor Mairi-Clare McMillan detailed the findings to the court, emphasizing the severity of the images involved.

According to Ms. McMillan, McGowan was reportedly unwell at the time due to a pre-existing health condition. He was taken to hospital and subsequently arrested the following day after his release. During police interviews, McGowan admitted to viewing the images, explaining that he was struggling emotionally following the death of his father. The court was informed that McGowan had been granted bail under the condition that he permitted police to inspect his internet devices at any time. In April of the previous year, he handed over another mobile phone, which was found to contain 67 child abuse images, further confirming his involvement.

The sheriff overseeing the case imposed restrictions on McGowan’s internet usage during his three-year supervision period. He was also prohibited from having contact with anyone aged 17 or under without prior approval from his supervising officer. As part of his sentence, McGowan is required to complete 200 hours of unpaid community service and will be electronically tagged for four months. This electronic monitoring means he is confined to his home between 7 pm and 7 am each day, effectively restricting his movements during those hours.

In April 2021, the community and family members were left devastated when McGowan admitted to possessing indecent images of children for a second time. Nicola Elliott, whose sister was engaged to McGowan, expressed her shock and disappointment, stating, “I can’t believe what he has done. It’s disgusting. He chucked himself under the bus and everyone else has had to pick up the carnage.” She described her personal connection to McGowan, recalling that she had shared memories with him over the years and loved him like a brother. Nicola also revealed that rumors had been circulating in the area, but she was relieved that the truth was now out in the open.

She recounted her initial reaction upon learning of the second offense, saying, “When I first heard about this I asked him why and he could only say ‘I’m sorry, I f****d up’.” The case was again brought before Hamilton Sheriff Court on March 26, where Ms. McMillan reiterated the details of the police search and the evidence found. She highlighted McGowan’s ongoing struggles with his mental health, linked to his bereavement, but emphasized that such suffering does not justify his actions.

Family members and acquaintances expressed their dismay, with one close to McGowan commenting anonymously, “He talked about struggling since his dad died. Suffering a bereavement doesn’t make you do this kind of thing. It’s been a horrible time and hopefully once the sentencing is done we can move on.”

During the proceedings, Sheriff Colin Dunipace called for a comprehensive social work report and a risk assessment before finalizing the sentence. The court deferred sentencing until May, indicating that further evaluations were necessary before a final decision could be made regarding McGowan’s punishment.