Sex abuse pensioner preyed on boys in Fife town during 1970s

A Fife pensioner who subjected young boys to sexual abuse more than four decades ago was convicted yesterday.

David Bowman, 70, preyed on three youngsters in his home town of Cowdenbeath between 1970 and 1979.

One victim, who regularly ran away from home as a child, told the High Court in Edinburgh he was molested by Bowman in different places, including a pigeon loft. He said Bowman told him he loved him and wanted to show him how much.

The man, now aged 56, said he originally reported Bowman to the police in 2002. He said: “I was just out of hospital. I took a massive overdose to get away from this.

“I wanted him arrested. I wanted him off the street.”

Bowman had denied committing indecent behaviour towards him in 1970 until 1977 at addresses in Hill of Beath and

Cowdenbeath and indecently assaulting him between July 1977 and July the following year at a house in Cowdenbeath.

He also denied committing indecent behaviour with another child from the age of 10 in 1972 until 1976 in Cowdenbeath and at a road near the B981 Inverkeithing to Crossgates road, in Fife.

He denied a further charge of indecent assault on a boy, who was aged either five or six, between October 1977 and October the following year at a house in Cowdenbeath.

Bowman, of Ewing Street, Cowdenbeath, was found guilty of all four offences.

Sentence was deferred until next month.

The trial judge, Lord Boyd of Duncansby, placed him on the sex offenders’ register. He ordered that Bowman, who was on bail, should be remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.