WILLIAM EDGAR FROM CAMBUSLANG SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AT GLASGOW CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, William Edgar, a 34-year-old man from Cambuslang, was convicted of indecent assault on a 14-year-old girl at Glasgow Central Railway Station. The incident occurred in December of the previous year and involved a series of troubling actions that have now led to his imprisonment.

According to court reports, Edgar targeted the young girl as she was returning home from an under-18s disco. The girl, who was separated from her friends, decided to catch a train alone around 8:15 pm. While she was examining the destination board, Edgar approached her and initiated a conversation. The interaction quickly escalated as they proceeded together towards the station's lower level train platform.

Once at the lower level, Edgar restrained the girl by wrapping his arms around her upper body, effectively holding her in place. Facing each other, he then forcibly kissed her on the mouth and proceeded to touch her inappropriately, grabbing her backside. The assault was interrupted when another passenger walked past, prompting Edgar to release her. The girl, visibly upset and crying, managed to escape and moved to the platform area, where she attempted to contact her family via her mobile phone. She was heard saying, “you need to come and get me, a man up there was touching me,” which was overheard by a couple waiting for a train.

Concerned by her distress, the couple approached her and subsequently contacted British Transport Police. The incident was captured on CCTV footage, which played a crucial role in identifying Edgar as the perpetrator. The police attempted to arrest him at his home in Cambuslang on December 15, but they were met with a hostile reception and decided to leave to prevent the situation from escalating further.

It was not until January 14 of the following year that Edgar voluntarily handed himself in and was subsequently interviewed by authorities. During the court proceedings, Sheriff Kenneth Mitchell expressed his astonishment at the police handling of the case, criticizing the decision not to call for backup during the initial arrest attempt. The sheriff remarked, “I never fail to be astonished by the things I hear in court but in over 24 years on the bench that makes it into the top 10. It is unbelievable that somebody who the authorities believed to have committed an assault of this nature on a young girl was allowed to remain at liberty. It concerns me greatly.”

In sentencing, Sheriff Mitchell emphasized the importance of protecting females of all ages from such heinous acts. He described Edgar’s conduct as “disgraceful,” especially considering the victim was a young girl returning from a social event where she had the right to feel safe. The sheriff also ordered Edgar to be placed on the sex offenders register for a period of ten years. Edgar, whose address was listed as HMP Addiewell, admitted to the charges of indecently assaulting the girl at Glasgow Central Railway Station on December 5 of the previous year.

Prosecutor John Bedford detailed the sequence of events, noting that the girl, after becoming separated from her friends, decided to travel alone. As she was looking at the destination board, Edgar approached her and they engaged in conversation. He then led her down to the station’s lower level, where he restrained her and assaulted her. The court heard that Edgar forcibly kissed her and touched her inappropriately before she managed to break free. The girl was visibly distressed, crying, and shaking, and she told witnesses that a man was touching her. These witnesses contacted the police, and CCTV footage later confirmed Edgar’s involvement. The police attempted to arrest him at his home but withdrew due to safety concerns. It was only after Edgar’s voluntary surrender that he was formally charged and convicted, with the court highlighting the serious nature of his actions and the need for justice to be served.