A disgraced care home worker who was twice caught committing a solo sex act outside Dunfermline’s Amazon warehouse has been jailed.
Sex offender Neil Cowan, 34, was filmed with his trousers down on two separate occasions – four days apart – in the city’s Sandpiper Drive.
He was placed on supervision for three years after admitting the offence at Dunfermline Sheriff Court in September, last year.
The 34-year-old returned to the dock this week after a breach of his supervision order.
Sheriff Susan Duff was told Cowan may have lied to his supervising officer.
He was jailed for eight months.
Trouser problems
The court previously heard that one witness took mobile phone footage of the incident as they left their nightshift at the Amazon warehouse around 3:30am on June 20 2021.
Cowan was seen on the verge with his trousers partly down, buttocks exposed and masturbating.
On June 16, a dairy delivery driver also saw Cowan, naked from the waist down and carrying out the same type of sex act.
When later traced and questioned by police, Cowan initially told them he’d had problems with his trousers falling down as they were “loose fitting.”
Cowan, of Cocklaw Street, Kelty, appeared in court in August and admitted engaging in the sexual activity on both occasions by pulling his trousers down, exposing himself and masturbating.
He was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for three years.
The court further ordered him to take part in a sex offenders’ rehabilitation scheme and only stay in accommodation approved by his supervising officer.
His defence solicitor, Ian Beatson, said concerns had been raised about how honest he was being with his supervising officer.
Sheriff Susan Duff told Cowan: “As your solicitor has said, this order has been ongoing for almost a year and there have always been problems with your frankness.
“I have taken the view this option has been exhausted and I am imposing a custodial sentence.”
Banned from care industry
Addressing the court last September, Mr Beatson said his client had been working in a care home that was affected by Covid and that, just prior to this incident, a resident he’d been close to had passed away.
The solicitor said this appeared to have an effect on him and that Cowan considered such acts to be “relief” in “times of stress”.
The lawyer said: “He uses sex as some relief from his problems.”
However, Sheriff Kevin Veal decided the act was a premeditated one.
Cowan was also banned from working in the care industry earlier this year after the Scottish Social Services Council found his fitness to practice was impaired.
In its published findings, the watchdog stated: “The convictions are of an extremely serious nature.
“The behaviour is indicative of an uncontrolled sexual deviancy which compels you to seek sexual gratification by causing distress, alarm or humiliation to others by exposing your genitals in a sexual manner.”
The SSSC added: “We consider that there is a high and foreseeable risk of your repeating the behaviour, in a social care setting and generally, should you continue to be allowed to work in social services.”
They said he also “failed to demonstrate meaningful insight, regret or apology” and did not cooperate with the council’s investigation.
