Man, 61, accused of exposing himself to children at town pool

Witness tells trial man ‘scurried’ away when confronted

A man accused of exposing himself to children at a swimming pool has gone on trial.

Alexander Shepherd, 61, also allegedly engaged in sexual activity with himself in the shower area of the open air swimming pool in Stonehaven.

Giving evidence at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday, one 12-year-old child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he saw a man with grey hair and red blotches all over his body in the changing rooms.

The boy said the man had his hand over his crotch and was looking at him and his teenage cousin while they were showering during their visit last summer.

He said: “He was squeezing his private parts.” He added: “I went outside and told my mum that there was a weird man standing in the shower not doing anything, like not washing.”

Another witness, Gary Gracie, 29, said he saw a man “take his shorts down and turn towards a child”.

“The child felt uncomfortable and just ran away,” he told depute fiscal Anne MacDonald.

Mr Gracie said he continued to watch the man who he said was staring at children in the shower on August 6 last year.

He said the man quickly “scurried” away when he confronted him. He reported the incident to pool staff who said they would contact the police.

Defence lawyer Lynn Bentley asked the Dundee father whether he saw the man come into contact with a child.

She asked: “He doesn’t engage the child in conversation, simply moves from one shower head to another?” Mr Gracie replied: “Yes.” Shepherd, of Aberdeen, faces two charges of intentionally exposing himself in a sexual manner to children on August 6 and August 17 last year.

He is also alleged to have engaged in sexual activity with himself in the presence of children on June 26 2016.

The trial continues later this year.

I went outside and told my mum that there was a weird man standing in the shower not doing anything, like not washing