Two women scared by car wash creep

James Stewart (44) appeared on the scene as the women prepared to wash their cars at the facility and his actions were so creepy and threatening it forced one of them to drive off and the other to wind up her window and contact police.

Appearing at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday, Stewart, 47 Millflats Street, Bainsford, previously pled guilty to behaving in a threatening manner at the Gulf Garage in Main Street, Larbert on October 16 last year.

Samantha Brown, procurator fiscal depute, said: “It was 6.15pm and the witness took her car to the location in order to wash the vehicle. She was let into one of the car wash bays and shortly afterwards another female witness pulled her car in as well.

“Both women were washing their vehicles and the accused approached one of the cars. He stood looking at one of the witnesses for a short period and she asked if she could help him, he replied ‘I would like to get to ken you’.

“She asked him to move because she was a bit frightened and startled by this and he did eventually move. The other woman entered her own vehicle and locked the door. The accused attempted to open the vehicle by pulling at the door handle.

“She then drove to another parking bay and the accused again approached the vehicles and one of the witnesses simply drove off. The other witness tried to close her window, but the accused had his hand on the window and tried to put his hand inside the vehicle.

“She thought he was trying to pull the window down so she then drove off and reported the incident to police.”

CCTV footage identified Stewart and officers later tracked him down to his home address.

He said he was sorry for what he had done.

The court heard Stewart had a problem with alcohol.

Sheriff Derek Livingston placed Stewart on a supervised community payback order for two years with the condition he attend for alcohol treatment.

*Forth Valley Addictions Support and Counselling (ASC) offers help to addicts. Visit www.asc.me.uk or call (01324) 874969.