SEAN MCGOWAN GROOMED 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN FIFE AND INVERKEITHING, AVOIDING JAIL
In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community in Fife, Sean McGowan, a 38-year-old ice cream and cake shop owner from Inverkeithing, was found guilty of grooming and engaging in sexual activities with a 14-year-old girl.The incident, which spanned over two months, involved a series of inappropriate messages, physical contact, and sexual advances that have now led to legal consequences, although McGowan avoided a custodial sentence.
McGowan’s business, ‘Catered With Love,’ located on King Street in Inverkeithing, was forced to shut down following protests from community members once the allegations surfaced.
The shop was known for its wide variety of desserts, including waffles, crepes, milkshakes, and over 30 flavors of ice cream, as well as catering for events such as weddings and birthdays.
The establishment had grown out of a catering business that produced up to 500 cheesecakes weekly, making it a well-known local enterprise.
According to court proceedings, McGowan had groomed the girl for more than two months, during which he engaged in multiple inappropriate behaviors.
He groped and kissed her, asked her to send nude photographs, and expressed a desire to have sex with her.
One of the messages he sent read, “You could get me in a lot of bother LOL,” while another stated, “It could get me jailed.” These messages indicated an awareness of the illegal and inappropriate nature of his actions.
Other messages revealed that McGowan had asked her to send pictures of her naked body, and he made comments about not wearing boxers, further emphasizing his inappropriate conduct.
On the charges, McGowan was convicted of engaging in sexual activity with the girl between March 16 and May 26, 2020, at ‘Catered With Love,’ as well as at locations in South Queensferry and elsewhere.
The court heard that he repeatedly kissed her, touched her on the body and buttocks, and slapped her on the buttocks.
He also sent her sexual written communications and persistently asked her to send naked images of her buttocks, expressing his desire for her to be the person she lost her virginity to.
The girl’s mother became increasingly concerned about her daughter’s secretive behavior, especially regarding her phone.
When she checked her daughter’s device, she discovered the messages from McGowan, prompting her to contact the police.
During the trial, McGowan claimed that he felt “very uncomfortable” when the messages were read out in court, asserting that his interactions were “just in a friendly manner” and “a bit of banter and jokes,” denying any sexual intent.
He admitted that some messages, such as those about not wearing boxers, were inappropriate but insisted they were not sexual.
In her testimony, the girl stated that she had sent McGowan naked photos, a claim he denied.
She also explained that he used coded language, such as “stickers,” which he claimed meant kisses.
McGowan, who previously resided in Auchtermuchty and now lives on Earlston Way in Macedonia, Glenrothes, also claimed that he had lost his business due to a “witch-hunt” against him, including social media campaigns.
Sentencing was handed down by Sheriff David Hall, who rejected McGowan’s account and described the girl as a “credible and reliable witness.” Instead of jail, McGowan was ordered to complete a community payback order, which includes two years of supervision and 240 hours of unpaid work.
Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for two years, marking a significant legal consequence for his actions.
UPDATE 25/07/2025 A convicted child groomer was ejected from a train in Fife by passengers who saw him drunkenly reduce two primary school-age girls to tears.
Sean McGowan frightened the youngsters in the crammed vestibule of a train from Edinburgh on August 10 2024.
McGowan was placed on the sex offenders register in 2022 after being found guilty of misconduct towards a 14-year-old, from his dessert parlour in Inverkeithing.
The chef, who also has a previous train-related criminal conviction, was hit with a four-figure fine.
At a hearing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court in June, McGowan pled guilty to an amended charge of acting in a threatening or abusive manner.
The 40-year-old, of Burntisland, pled guilty to repeatedly shouting, swearing and acting in an aggressive manner.
He repeatedly engaged with two children believed to be under 10, attempted to touch them and tried to push past other passengers who were seeking to block him from the girls.
McGowan was on the 9.34pm train from Waverley to Fife during the height of the Edinburgh International Festival, in a vestibule area with other passengers, including the girls and a woman understood to be their mother.
He began swaying and a passenger told him he was not an armrest.
The offender began shouting and swearing and was told to calm down.
He became aggressive and was told to mind his language.
At that point, McGowan spotted the youngsters and began asking them and the woman how old they were, what they were doing and where they were going.
He referred to himself as Uncle Sean in front of the strangers and tried to high five and fist bump the girls, telling them how pretty and nice they were.
He rambled to the woman that she was the best mum and they were the best thing to happen to him all that day.
Other passengers described his behaviour as inappropriate and feared for the girls’ safety.
He tried to push past others to engage with them, stating: “They like me, they’re smiling at me.” The crying girls were moved into the seated area of the carriage and a passenger pushed the emergency button.
After being ejected at Inverkeithing station, McGowan tried to reboard the train at other doors but was not allowed back on.
“The witnesses spoke about him clearly being under the influence of alcohol.
“He then realises that he’s upset the children quite badly.
“All he was trying to do was make the children feel more comfortable – it’s gone far beyond that.” Mr Spence said those who forced his client from the train “were probably entitled to do that.” He said: “Again, he’s before the court for a matter rooted in alcohol use.
“He’s not drunk since the event.
I’ve seen him before looking a lot worse.
“He has gained employment – good employment.
“If he goes to Edinburgh, if he has a drink, that seems to be an issue for him.
“It may well be Mr McGowan is starting to focus now.
He understands that the court is going to have a limit here.” Sheriff Clair McLachlan fined McGowan £1,275 altogether.
She said: “I think you know that this was a fully unpleasant incident.
“Whether you meant to or not, you caused upset to these children which is not an insignificant matter.
“It’s not the type of offence I’d usually deal with by financial penalty.” McGowan’s drunken antics took place a year and a day after he drunkenly snatched and drank a fellow train passenger’s water and told him he would “sort him out” on the platform.
