SCOTS PERVERT, 54, WHO SEXUALLY ASSAULTED GIRL, 13, ON BUS SNARED AFTER POLICE RECOGNISED HIS CELTIC BEANIE HAT
A vile sex predator who targeted a 13-year-old girl on a bus was caught after police traced him through the Celtic beanie hat he wore during the sickening attack.Francis Harper, 54, preyed on the schoolgirl as she travelled through Motherwell, Lanarkshire, before subjecting her to a terrifying sexual assault in broad daylight.
The youngster had innocently chatted to Harper about football after noticing his Celtic hat as they sat on the 241 bus.
But the friendly conversation quickly turned sinister.
Glasgow Sheriff Court heard how Harper suddenly lunged at the girl, stroked her face and kissed her on the cheek.
The creep then pressured the frightened youngster into kissing him back.
Terrified and intimidated by the much older man, the schoolgirl felt she had no choice but to comply.
Harper continued to probe the girl with personal questions, asking where she lived and whether she stayed with her parents.
The youngster deliberately kept her answers vague, refusing to tell the predator where she lived.
After getting off the bus, the shaken teenager told her mother about the ordeal.
Police were immediately called and launched an investigation.
CCTV footage captured the attack and officers quickly identified Harper.
When they searched his home, they found the distinctive Celtic beanie hat sitting on a sofa - the crucial clue that helped bring him to justice.
Harper later admitted sexually assaulting the child.
The court also heard the predator had committed another disturbing offence involving an 11-year-old girl.
In that incident, Harper exposed himself at a bus stop outside a Morrisons supermarket in Glasgow's Gallowgate before carrying out a sex act in full view of the child.
He was later arrested at a nearby pub.
Sheriff Andrew Mclntyre jailed Harper for 18 months and ordered him to remain under supervision for a year after his release.
The sex offender was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- A SEX offender who kissed a teenage girl on a bus was identified by his Celtic beanie hat.
Francis Harper, 54, preyed on the 13-year-old in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, on December 12 2025.
Harper initially spoke about football with his victim before he went on to stroke her on the cheek.
Harper then kissed the girl on the cheek and motioned for her to give him one back which she did as she felt “intimidated”.
Harper told her that he does not go to them and ‘I hope we beat them on Sunday’.
Harper initially got up believing that it was his stop and put his fist out for a fist bump with the girl then asked her name.
Harper sat back down and the girl noticed him staring at her face.
Miss McGuinness said: “He lunged towards her and placed the right side of his hand on her cheek.” Harper went on to talk about her face and kissed her on the cheek.
Miss McGuinness added: “Harper positioned his face which intimated that he was looking for the girl to return a kiss to his cheek.
“She kissed him on the cheek as she was scared and intimidated.” Harper asked her if she lived with her parents and she replied: “Yes.” He inquired if she lived locally and she stated “sort of” as she did not want to tell him where she stayed.
Harper then got off the bus as did the girl at a later stop.
The girl’s mother noted that her daughter was “shocked” and was able to get her to describe the incident.
The police were contacted.
Miss McGuinness said: “CCTV inquiries were carried out and an officer saw Harper and identified him.
“Officers attended his address and noted the Celtic beanie hat that Harper had been wearing which was lying on the sofa.” Harper was then arrested.
The court also heard of an earlier incident in which Harper exposed himself to an 11-year-old girl and performed a sex act at a bus stop outside a Morrisons supermarket in Glasgow’s Gallowgate.
Harper was reported and he was arrested at a nearby pub.
Sentence was deferred pending background reports until the end of the month.
Harper, who appeared from custody, had his remand continued meantime by Sheriff Andrew McIntyre who also placed him on the sex offenders register.
