STUART BARR GREENOCK WATERFRONT LEISURE COMPLEX SEX OFFENDER AVOIDS JAIL SENTENCE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Greenock, Stuart Barr, aged 32, was involved in a series of alarming sexual misconduct incidents at the Waterfront Leisure Complex. The incidents, which occurred on the 15th of July last year, involved a young girl and a pre-teen girl, both of whom were subjected to inappropriate and distressing behavior by Barr during their visits to the facility.

According to court proceedings, Barr was found guilty in November at Greenock Sheriff Court of one count of sexual assault and one count of indecent exposure. The victims, who were children aged 13 and 11, provided their testimonies via live video link during the trial, describing the traumatic experiences they endured. The 13-year-old girl recounted that Barr had intentionally brushed against her in the training pool while she was playing with her younger brother and sister. Her 11-year-old sister, who was underwater at the time, confirmed witnessing the incident, adding to the credibility of the victims' accounts.

Another young girl, also aged 11, who was at the pool that day with her friend's family, testified that she saw Barr expose himself in one of the small 'bowl' pools connected to the flume slides. This incident added to the pattern of inappropriate behavior linked to Barr at the leisure complex.

During the trial, Barr's defense solicitor, Aidan Gallagher, presented his client’s account, claiming that Barr believed the allegations were a prank or 'wind up' when approached by staff. Barr also asserted that CCTV footage would exonerate him, suggesting that he had done nothing wrong. However, the court was shown footage that was taken at an incorrect time and did not capture Barr at the relevant moments. Furthermore, attempts to recover a recording of the incidents were unsuccessful due to malfunctioning recording equipment, leaving the court without concrete visual evidence.

Despite the severity of the allegations and the victims' testimonies, Barr was not sentenced to imprisonment. Instead, he was given a community payback order and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register. Sheriff Gerard Sinclair emphasized the importance of supervision and ordered Barr to be monitored for a period of 12 months, reflecting the court’s concern for public safety and the protection of children in the community of Greenock.