SHANE COWAN BEHIND BARS AGAIN
JAIL FOR MAN WHO MADE SEXUALISED COMMENTS TOWARDS WOMAN AT HOSPITAL A MAN who made sexualised comments towards a woman at Borders General Hospital has been jailed for six months at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.Shane Cowan, 30, repeatedly uttered remarks intended to humiliate, distress or alarm the woman or to gain sexual gratification.
The offence occurred on Thursday, February 5.
Prosecutor Chelsea Martin stated Cowan attended the hospital for an appointment and upon arrival said "I would have her" in relation to the woman.
Cowan also muttered another comment under his breath that the victim could not clearly hear, and later attempted to engage her in conversation, making her feel uncomfortable.
The woman reported the incident to a hospital supervisor who initially issued Cowan a formal warning.
However, after further disclosures about other comments Cowan had made, police were contacted and they visited him at his home.
Court records show Cowan, formerly of Jedburgh and Galashiels but with an address in Hawick, had recently been released from prison on supervision.
Sheriff Peter Paterson back-dated the prison sentence to February 9, when Cowan was first remanded in custody.
—————————————————————————————————— A resident of Jedburgh, Shane Cowan, has been sentenced to over 14 months in prison at Selkirk Sheriff Court following his appearance on five separate criminal charges.
The 28-year-old man’s legal troubles stem from a series of disturbing incidents that spanned several months within the town.
Three months prior to his sentencing, Cowan was granted a high-tariff structured deferred sentence, which was intended to serve as a probationary period during which he was expected to demonstrate good behavior and stay out of trouble.
However, Cowan failed to adhere to the conditions of this order, breaching the terms set by the court.
As a result, when he appeared before Sheriff Peter Paterson from custody, the judge imposed a custodial sentence totaling 444 days, reflecting the seriousness of his violations.
The court heard that Cowan had pleaded guilty to engaging in a stalking campaign against a woman in various locations across Jedburgh.
The incidents occurred between November 5, 2022, and May 10, 2023, during which Cowan repeatedly approached and confronted the woman despite her clear requests for him to stop.
His actions included attempts to hand her a letter, sing a song to her, and offer her confectionery, all of which contributed to her fear and alarm.
These persistent behaviors caused significant distress to the victim and were deemed to be a course of conduct likely to cause her fear.
In addition to the stalking charges, Cowan admitted to other serious offences.
On August 16, at the Co-op on High Street in Jedburgh, he communicated indecently with a woman, made sexual remarks towards her, and sexually assaulted two 16-year-old girls on the same day.
These allegations further compounded his criminal record and highlighted a pattern of inappropriate and unlawful conduct.
Furthermore, Cowan pleaded guilty to obstructing police officers, breaching the peace, and violating his bail conditions.
These additional charges underscored a series of violations that demonstrated a disregard for the law and the safety of others in the community.
Shane Cowan, who resides on Blackhills Close, Castlegate, now faces a significant period behind bars as a consequence of his actions.
His case has drawn attention to the ongoing issues of personal safety and the importance of enforcing strict penalties for offenders who threaten the peace and security of residents in Jedburgh.
—————————————————————————————————— UPDATE 07-12-2025 A aSERIAL stalker who targeted two female neighbours after moving into their street following his release from prison has been remanded in custody at Selkirk Sheriff Court.
The court was told Cowan was released on licence in July and housed at a flat in Glendinning Terrace, Galashiels.
The women noticed Cowan would appear whenever they were walking their dogs, follow them, watch and stare at them and even turned up at one of the women's place of work when she had children in her care.
Cowan would also ask another woman about the whereabouts of her friend and she got the impression he was obsessed with the woman.
After being accused of the offences, Cowan was returned to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.
Cowan has been in custody since August.
Sheriff Robert Fife expressed concern that there were around 10 non-harassment orders in place preventing Cowan from having any contact with named women.
He said there were significant risks involved when Cowan was released from custody.
In addition to the normal background reports, Sheriff Fife called for a supervised release order report.
Sentence was deferred until December 15 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court and Cowan was remanded in custody.
