STEVEN PUTTOCK AND HIS SHOCKING SEX OFFENSES IN LANARKSHIRE

Victims of a disturbing sexual predator who engaged in a pattern of invasive and violent acts over a span of more than a year have come forward to share their distress and trauma. Steven Puttock, a 25-year-old man from Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire, was responsible for a series of serious sexual assaults, including sneaking into two victims’ bedrooms and assaulting them while they were asleep. Over a fourteen-month period, Puttock carried out multiple vile attacks targeting at least five women, leaving emotional scars that persist to this day.

Last week, the judicial system made a significant decision that shocked many. A sheriff presiding over the case announced that imprisoning Puttock would not serve the best interests of either the offender or the victims. Instead, he was sentenced to what was described as a "top-end community disposal," a form of intensive community supervision. In addition to this, Puttock was ordered to pay each of the women £500 in compensation. These measures received criticism from the affected women, who felt that the punishment was inadequate considering the severity of his actions.

One victim, who was assaulted in her own home after Puttock had secretly entered her bed, expressed her deep dissatisfaction with the outcome. She stated, “We’re the victims, not him. To pay us £500 for what he has done to us all doesn’t cut it. He’s free to get on with his life but we’re going to be affected by this for the rest of ours.” Her words reflect the ongoing pain and frustration felt by many who have suffered at Puttock’s hands.

The court heard that Puttock had targeted these women at residential addresses in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth between January 2020 and March 2021. One woman was subjected to his assault on three separate occasions, while another experienced his advances twice. The victims, according to court reports, were all considered friends or “like family” to Puttock, which adds a disturbing layer of betrayal and manipulation to his offenses.

During court proceedings, it emerged that Puttock was in a relationship at the time of these crimes. He had also attempted to apologize to two of the victims through text messages and Facebook, using the same words for each. Sheriff Joseph Hughes noted that Puttock had discussed his offending with a psychologist, revealing that had he not been stopped, his behavior might have escalated into more serious crimes.

Assessments classified Puttock as being at a medium risk of re-offending. Despite this, the sheriff emphasized that imprisonment would not necessarily aid in addressing or rehabilitating him. “A custodial sentence will not in itself assist you in addressing your offending. Sentencing you to a modest period in prison will not help either the victims or society at large,” he stated.

In sentencing, Puttock received three years of supervision, 300 hours of unpaid community work, and a 12-month electronic monitoring order via tagging. Moreover, five-year non-harassment orders were placed on each victim, and Puttock’s name will be entered into the sex offenders’ register for the same duration.

One victim, who was groped in her bed in January 2020, described her ongoing trauma. She said, “He thought he could randomly sneak into other people’s beds and cause this massive impact on their lives and he gets community service? I moved house after this. I kept having nightmares thinking people were in my room. Why is he allowed to be in the community when he is a danger to the community? Litter picking and painting fences? How is that going to stop him from reoffending? I don’t see how he’s not going to be a danger to women after this? I don’t care about his money.”

Another woman, who identified Puttock as a close friend or “like a brother,” recounted how he had entered her room and touched her inappropriately on two occasions in October 2020, while her family and friends were present. “He knew exactly what he was doing and his intentions. It happened so quickly. The next day I was distraught. I knew if I told my mum and dad they would erupt,” she explained. She explained that she delayed reporting to police for a year due to fear of upsetting her family, describing the ongoing anxiety she faced, checking parking lots for his car, and feeling helpless.

This victim also revealed that Puttock had contacted her later, expressing remorse via messages. “He then messaged me and said he was sorry for everything he had done. This sentence makes us think ‘is that it?’ You would have expected more for five victims. I only hope this will change how he treats women in the future because I don’t want anyone else to go through this,” she added.

A third woman described a particularly brazen incident in October 2020, when Puttock put his hand down her trousers twice in a room filled with her family and friends. She described her feelings of disgust and anger, stating, “It made me feel sick to the pit of my stomach. He’s just a horrible, horrible human. I can’t explain the anger. He thought he got away with it the first time so could do it again.”

The defense lawyer, Ross Brown, stated that Puttock had been abusing alcohol and cocaine during the period of his offending. He highlighted that Puttock was engaged in “highly-skilled employment” and had established a new relationship, suggesting efforts at rehabilitation and change.

The case underscores the troubling reality of domestic and sexual violence within communities in Lanarkshire, raising questions about sentencing policies and the protection of victims from repeat offenders. While Puttock’s community-based sentence aims to monitor and rehabilitate him, the victims remain haunted by the trauma inflicted and feel that justice has yet to be fully served.