PAUL MCLELLAN FROM ROBROYSTON AND TANNOCHSIDE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON TEENAGER IN LANARKSHIRE

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Robroyston and Tannochside, Paul McLellan, a 35-year-old man from Robroyston, Glasgow, was sentenced to four years in prison following a conviction for a serious sexual assault involving a 14-year-old girl in the Tannochside area of Lanarkshire.

According to court proceedings, McLellan took advantage of the teenager, who was under the influence of alcohol, as she was walking home alone. The incident occurred on Spindlehowe Road on May 26 of the previous year. The court heard that the girl and her friends had spent the evening in a wooded area, and after their time there, she left ahead of her companions. It was during this walk that McLellan allegedly approached her and committed the assault.

McLellan, who denied the charges, maintained his innocence throughout the trial. However, after a five-day jury trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court, the jury found him guilty of the charges. The court was told that McLellan had parked his van near the wooded area where the girl was last seen, raising questions about his intentions and proximity to the scene.

During sentencing, Sheriff Daniel Kelly expressed his grave concern over the nature of the crime. He stated, “For some reason you had parked your van near that wooded area. This girl was on her own and you carried out a serious sexual assault on her. It’s a matter of considerable concern that a 14-year-old girl, who is still a child, could be molested in such a fashion when simply making her way home. She ought to have been free to walk the streets without danger. This is someone you had never met before.”

The sheriff also addressed the issue of consent, noting that the victim disputed any claim of agreement. He highlighted that the girl was intoxicated at the time, which McLellan exploited. “You took advantage of her in that state,” Sheriff Kelly said, emphasizing the profound impact the assault had on the young girl.

McLellan’s defense solicitor, Marco Guarino, requested that the court consider alternatives to imprisonment, suggesting that a period of intense supervision might be appropriate. Guarino pointed out that McLellan had struggled with drug abuse for a significant period and was going through a low point in his life, having been ostracized by his family and partner. He also mentioned that McLellan had expressed remorse and had made efforts to turn his life around, including securing a job with his father’s company and becoming sober from alcohol and drugs.

Despite these pleas, Sheriff Kelly decided that a custodial sentence was necessary, citing McLellan’s previous conviction for domestic assault in 2016. The court also ordered that McLellan be placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, reflecting the seriousness of his crime and the need for ongoing monitoring.