STUART BAVIDGE: LIVINGSTON SEX PREDATOR AND POLICE IMPOSTER SENTENCED FOR REPEATED OFFENSES

In August 2016, Stuart Bavidge, a 37-year-old man from Livingston with a troubling history of impersonating police officers, was sentenced to five and a half months in jail for his latest offense involving deception and intimidation. Bavidge’s pattern of criminal behavior, which includes multiple convictions for impersonation and sexual offenses, underscores a disturbing obsession with police authority and control.

Earlier in the proceedings, Bavidge admitted to his fourth offense of impersonating a police officer. The court was informed that he had previously applied to join the police force but was rejected, a rejection that seemingly fueled his fixation with law enforcement. His fascination with police work was further reinforced by receiving two commendations four years prior—one for rescuing a drowning man from the Clyde River and another for assisting officers in Edinburgh in apprehending a violent suspect.

Most recently, in September 2016, Bavidge pled guilty to pretending to be a police officer and pulling over a female delivery driver in Livingston, his hometown. The incident involved Bavidge stopping the woman, claiming to be an off-duty traffic officer named Stuart Ross. He expressed concern about her driving and threatened to check her details at the Glasgow-based Helen Street police station. The delivery driver, suspicious of his intentions, recorded their interaction on her mobile phone. When Bavidge drove away, she immediately reported the incident to Livingston police, providing the recording as evidence.

Authorities tracked Bavidge down in Edinburgh, where he was arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer and careless driving. The prosecution, however, accepted a plea of not guilty regarding the motoring charge. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed her dissatisfaction with the sentence, stating, “Considering his previous offenses, I feel this is too lenient. He is a danger to women, and I firmly believe he will reoffend.”

His criminal record is extensive and includes a notorious incident in 2006 when Bavidge, then a father of two, was sentenced to three years in prison after forcing a 21-year-old woman into a sexual act by pretending to be a police officer. He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register following that conviction. In 2008, Bavidge was caught working as a security guard using a fake Security Industry Authority letter, further demonstrating his pattern of deception and disregard for the law.

During the sentencing, Sheriff Douglas Kinloch emphasized the seriousness of Bavidge’s actions, stating, “You sought to obtain personal details about a female driver by impersonating a police officer. One of these offenses related to a sexual offense, and you received a substantial custodial sentence. It’s clear that this has not deterred you. I’ve come to the conclusion that I’d be failing the community if I did not impose a custodial sentence in this concerning case.”

Earlier in July 2016, Bavidge’s predatory behavior was again highlighted when he posed as a police officer to follow and question a lone female driver. The woman, a self-employed delivery driver, noticed Bavidge following her for approximately ten minutes, during which he parked twice while she made deliveries. He eventually approached her in Eliburn, Livingston, claiming to be a traffic police officer from Helen Street. He asked her personal questions about her work and attempted to verify her details, even suggesting he could call a unit to check her information.

Despite Bavidge’s insistence, the woman became suspicious when he refused to show any identification and threatened to report him to the police. She recorded their interaction on her phone, which revealed Bavidge’s true intentions. When she threatened to go to the police, Bavidge quickly left the scene at high speed, driving on the wrong side of the street and onto the footpath. The police traced Bavidge to Edinburgh, where he was found with a female passenger and children in his vehicle. The woman expressed her horror at discovering Bavidge’s past and suspected he might have targeted her because she was alone and vulnerable.

Bavidge’s criminal history is extensive. In 2006, he was sentenced to three years after forcing a prostitute into a sexual act by pretending to be a police officer. He had previously been caught working as a security guard with fake credentials in 2008. Despite his past, Bavidge continues to pose a significant threat, especially to women, due to his repeated impersonations and predatory behavior, which authorities and victims alike find deeply concerning.