WILLIAM DONAHOE FROM GIRDLE TOLL AND STEVENSTON JAILED FOR SEX OFFENCES ON BUS IN SCOTLAND

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Girdle Toll and Stevenston, William Donahoe, aged 22, was sentenced to prison after a series of alarming incidents involving two young girls on a bus journey. The events unfolded on February 27 of this year, when Donahoe, who was already subject to a Sex Offender Order imposed earlier that same month, caused significant fear and distress among the victims.

According to court reports, Donahoe approached the two girls, both aged 12, on a bus traveling through Irvine High Street. He engaged them in conversation and made inappropriate, lewd, and sexual comments, accompanied by disturbing sounds intended to intimidate. The prosecutor detailed that Donahoe asked the girls whether they were virgins and suggested that they should engage in sexual activity together, which the girls understood as a serious proposition.

Further allegations revealed that Donahoe attempted to persuade the girls to meet him at Stevenston railway station, promising to buy them alcohol. The court heard that he produced a bottle of Buckfast, which he carried on his person, and offered it to the girls, heightening their fear and alarm. The situation escalated when the bus stopped at Ayrshire College in Kilwinning, where Donahoe left to speak with the driver. During this time, another male passenger sat with the girls, and upon Donahoe’s return, he was told to be quiet by the male, who also kept watch over the girls for the remainder of the journey.

Donahoe disembarked at Kilwinning Road in Stevenston, while the girls exited at Saltcoats Road, Stevenston. A female witness on the bus insisted on walking the girls home, and police were subsequently contacted to investigate the incident.

During the court proceedings, defense solicitor Gordon Ghee highlighted that Donahoe has some learning difficulties and described his life as chaotic, with prior issues that have contributed to his current state. Ghee argued that his client was not fully capable of understanding the consequences of his actions and needed time to learn appropriate social behavior.

However, Sheriff Alistair Watson condemned Donahoe’s conduct, emphasizing the severity of his breach of the conditions set by the Sex Offender Order. The sheriff described the behavior as “appalling” and stated that the court had no choice but to impose a strict sentence. Donahoe, who most recently resided at Southook Row, Girdle Toll, was sentenced to 19 months in prison, with the sentence backdated to March 5, the day he was remanded. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender with the police for a period of ten years, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the need for ongoing monitoring.