STEPHEN LYON FROM DUNFERMLINE SENTENCED AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT AT STAGECOACH DEPOT

A man from Dunfermline, identified as Stephen Lyon, has been formally placed on the Sex Offenders Register following a disturbing incident of sexual assault that took place in the town. The incident involved Lyon, 55 years old, who was found guilty of groping a woman’s bottom in front of her husband at the Stagecoach Depot located in the St Leonards area of Dunfermline on July 22 of this year.

During the court proceedings at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, it was revealed that Lyon had previously been convicted of a serious crime when he was a teenager, although the specific details of that past conviction were not disclosed to the court. This prior conviction was described as “serious” by the legal representatives, adding a layer of gravity to the current case.

On the day of the incident, Lyon was employed as a cleaner at the depot. The prosecution, led by Laura McManus, detailed how Lyon had pulled the woman close to him while hugging her and then placed his left hand on her buttocks over her clothing, squeezing and groping her in a manner that was clearly inappropriate. The court heard that Lyon made a groaning noise during the act and directed his gaze towards the woman’s husband, making a provocative comment, “look at this, (the husband’s name).”

The couple involved perceived Lyon’s actions as having sexual motivation, which led them to report the incident to the police. Lyon was arrested two days after the assault. During police questioning, Lyon claimed that he had “tapped her on the bum as a laugh,” insisting that his actions were meant as a joke and not sexual in nature. He maintained throughout that he did not grop or sexually assault the woman.

Defense lawyer Pete Robertson described the incident as one of “utmost naivety,” arguing that Lyon did not understand the severity of his actions and believed his behavior was harmless. The lawyer explained that Lyon had been unaware that what he considered a joke could be perceived as sexual misconduct. As a consequence of the incident, Lyon lost his job but has since secured employment as a sales assistant at a local garage.

The court also addressed Lyon’s previous criminal record, which dates back to 1986 when he was just 17 years old. The details of that conviction were not disclosed, but the court described it as “serious” and noted that the disposal in that case was “startling.”

Judge Wyllie Robertson expressed surprise at the nature of Lyon’s past conviction and the manner of its disposal. Ultimately, Lyon was sentenced to a community payback order with six months of supervision, serving as an alternative to imprisonment. Additionally, Lyon was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of six months, marking a significant step in the legal process following this distressing incident in Dunfermline.