KILSYTH SEXUAL PREDATOR STEVEN PUTTOCK WALKS FREE AFTER TARGETING FIVE WOMEN IN CUMBERNAULD AND KILSYTH

In a recent case heard at Airdrie Sheriff Court, Steven Puttock, a 25-year-old man from Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire, was found guilty of assaulting five women over a span of 14 months. The incidents took place at various residences in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth between January 2020 and March 2021. Despite the severity of his actions, Puttock was not sentenced to prison but was instead subjected to a community-based disposal, sparking controversy and concern among victims and observers alike.

According to court records, all five women involved in the assaults were known to Puttock and considered friends or like family members. The attacks included two women who were assaulted after Puttock secretly entered their bedrooms while they were sleeping. On these occasions, he lay beside them and engaged in inappropriate touching, actions that caused significant distress and trauma. One woman was subjected to abuse on three separate occasions, while another was assaulted twice. Notably, two of the assaults occurred at the same address on the same day during a social gathering attended by Puttock and his then-girlfriend, who was unaware of his misconduct at the time.

Following the incidents, Puttock attempted to apologize to the victims through messages on Facebook and via text, using identical wording in his apologies, which the court noted as a sign of his remorse or attempt at damage control. The court heard that Puttock admitted to the assaults and had been assessed by a clinical psychologist, who described his behavior as being on “a concerning trajectory” with a high likelihood of escalation if left unchecked.

Despite the serious nature of his offenses, Sheriff Joseph Hughes emphasized that Puttock was a first-time offender and that incarceration would not serve the best interests of the victims or society. The sheriff explained that a custodial sentence would not aid in addressing Puttock’s offending behavior and would not benefit the victims. Instead, he opted for a community-based sentence, which includes strict supervision for three years, during which Puttock must inform his supervising officer of any new relationships with females and adhere to strict internet use controls.

Additionally, Puttock is required to complete 300 hours of unpaid community service and will be subject to a 12-month electronic tagging order, which confines him to his home between 7 pm and 6 am daily. The sheriff stated that this approach allows for closer monitoring and a longer-term assessment of Puttock’s behavior, which he deemed more appropriate than imprisonment in this case. The decision has raised questions about justice and the effectiveness of community disposals in cases involving sexual assault, especially when the victims are close acquaintances of the offender.