MICHAEL REID'S SHOCKING CRIME IN KILWINNING: SEX OFFENDER SLAMMED BY FATHER AFTER BUS INCIDENT

In April 2020, a disturbing incident involving Michael Reid, a resident of Kilwinning, has sparked outrage and concern within the community. The case centers around Reid, who was involved in a highly inappropriate act on a public bus, and the subsequent legal proceedings that have left many feeling that justice has not been fully served.

Reid, aged 35 and residing on Montgomerie Terrace in Kilwinning, admitted to engaging in lewd behavior in front of two young girls aged 12 while on the top deck of a Number 11 bus. The incident occurred last year, with Reid reportedly pleasuring himself while holding a bottle of drink in his other hand. The girls, who were traveling on the bus, witnessed his actions, which caused significant distress and trauma.

Following the incident, Reid was brought before the court, where he was ordered to sign the Sex Offender’s Register. Additionally, he was given a curfew, requiring him to remain at home from 7pm to 7am. The court acknowledged his remorsefulness during proceedings, but many in the community, especially the father of one of the victims, expressed their outrage at what they perceived as a lenient sentence.

The father, who wished to remain anonymous, voiced his strong disapproval, stating, “I think the sentence is a bit ridiculous, especially since everybody has got to stay in the house anyway. A tag seems a bit irrelevant in the current situation. For a guy to have done that in front of two young girls on a bus, the guy is basically getting away with it – being on a register is a bit of a cop out. He’s not even got any community work. I’m a bit disgusted, everybody is on a tag just now.”

He further expressed his frustration, saying, “Doing that in front of two young girls should be considered quite serious especially when you see what other people get. I think he should have got the jail – I don’t expect the guy to get five years or something but you expect him to do some kind of time. I saw the video. It was clear he was doing what he was doing but for a 12-year-old girl to see that...”

The impact on the victim’s family has been profound. The father shared that his daughter’s behavior has changed significantly since the incident. “I’ve been in and out of school a couple of times just because of her mood and the way she’s acting has stemmed from this. She has not been going out as much, and she used to be out all the time. She has changed and is a bit reserved about going out,” he explained.

The court proceedings revealed that Reid’s misconduct occurred on July 26 last year, when the girls boarded the bus at Saltcoats station around 8:20 am. The court heard that Reid began pleasuring himself while looking at the girls, then paused when new passengers entered the bus, attempting to join their conversation. One of the girls managed to record Reid on her mobile phone, and the two girls then communicated via text messages, deciding to pretend they were getting off the bus to escape the situation.

Authorities were alerted when the girls reported the incident to the driver, who then contacted a supervisor. Reid disembarked from the bus, and police later identified him through photographs. The case was brought before Sheriff Foran, who sentenced Reid to a community payback order with supervision for two years. Additionally, Reid was subjected to a restriction of liberty order, requiring him to stay at home from 7am to 7pm, and was placed on the sex offender register.

This case has left many in Kilwinning and the surrounding areas questioning the adequacy of the punishment handed down, with concerns about the message it sends regarding accountability for such serious offenses.