STEPHEN CHRISTIE COATBRIDGE SEX OFFENDER ESCAPES JAIL AFTER ASSAULTING TEENAGER IN WEST END PARK

In a case that has shocked the community of Coatbridge, Stephen Christie, aged 39, from Mitchell Street in Kirkwood, narrowly avoided imprisonment after being convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in West End Park, Langloan. The incident took place on May 25 of the previous year, during a period when Christie was out celebrating his birthday. He was observed following a group of four children—two 14-year-old girls and two younger children—into the park, an act that raised immediate concern among witnesses and authorities alike.

According to court reports, Christie had previously been recognized by the teenage girls as a worker at a convenience store located on Renfrew Street in Kirkwood. After following them into a shop, he continued his pursuit into West End Park. Once there, he committed a disturbing act of sexual assault by grabbing one of the teenage girls from behind, molesting her, and making inappropriate sexual remarks. Witnesses noted that Christie also attempted to buy alcohol for the girls before leaving the park and making further lewd comments, indicating a pattern of predatory behavior.

Christie denied all charges during the trial, but after a three-day hearing at Airdrie Sheriff Court in early May, a jury found him guilty of the sexual assault. The court proceedings revealed the seriousness of the offense, with the victim’s vulnerability being a key factor in the case. During the sentencing hearing last Wednesday, defence solicitor Ross Brown argued that although Christie faced the possibility of a custodial sentence, there were mitigating factors that could justify a non-custodial sentence. He pointed to a report indicating that Christie posed a low risk of violent offending and suggested that a community-based sentence would serve the public interest better.

However, Sheriff Petra Collins emphasized the gravity of the crime, stating, “You have been found guilty of a sexual assault on a 14-year-old girl. You took advantage of her naïvety. You enforced your attention upon her and made lewd comments while placing your hands on her body. This is a very serious offence.” She acknowledged the difficulty in sentencing but noted that Christie’s status as a first-time offender and the narrow margin by which she considered a custodial sentence was avoided influenced her decision.

As a result, Christie was sentenced to a community payback order. This order requires him to be supervised for the next two years and to complete 200 hours of unpaid work within six months. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for the duration of the order and is prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with individuals under the age of 17. Outside the court, a relative of the victim condemned Christie, describing him as “a sexual predator who likes to have power over children,” highlighting the community’s outrage and concern over his actions.