DRUNK IS FACING JAIL AFTER ORDEAL FOR YOUNGSTERS CYCLE PATH CREEP LEFT GIRLS IN TEARS
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A career criminal accused of attempting to abduct two young girls has been warned he faces jail after his latest court appearance.
Jason Brown - who has 27 previous convictions - approached the youngsters, aged eight and nine, when they disappeared from their parents’ sight for a few seconds.
Drunken Brown emerged from a nearby riverbank as they cycled their bikes round RI OF RP EF
a blind bend. Brown, 47, asked the primary school girls their names and said he would take them away from the path.
But the frightened girls – who were left in tears – cycled off and raised the alarm.
The details emerged when Brown appeared in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court yesterday to go on trial over the events of August 9 last year.
He was due to go on trial with attempting to abduct the youngsters from the cycle track in Elderslie.
Prosecutors claimed that Brown repeatedly told the girls to go with him and placed them in a state of fear and alarm for their safety.
Instead of starting a trial, the court accepted an alternative charge of breach of peace, which Brown pleaded guilty to.
Procurator Fiscal Depute Frank Clarke told the court how Brown pounced on the primary school children when they disappeared from their parents’ view.
The prosecutor explained: “Two children, along with other children and adults, their parents, were out for the day.
“The children had bikes with them and for the greater part of the day were at the cycle track.
“The accused approached them round a bend, out of sight of their parents.”
Brown asked the girls their names – then asked the children to go with him.
The girls refused and raced back to their parents.
Mr Clarke added: “Both children were extremely upset.
“It transpires he was heavily under the influence of alcohol.”
Defence solicitor Charlie McCusker told the court that Brown - who has previously been convicted of assaults, robberies, housebreaking, fraud and shoplifting, among other offences - had drank two bottles of wine on the day in question.
The lawyer explained: “This is a very trying case. “He came upon the girls. “He thought he knew them and said he would ‘get them up the road’.
“It would clearly be frightening for the girls to see someone intoxicated and dishevelled.”
Sheriff David Pender called for background reports to be prepared ahead of sentencing in what he termed “a very serious offence” and warned Brown he could be caged, saying: “All options are still open to me.”
Brown, formerly of Floorsburn Crescent, Johnstone, and now living in Old Road, Elderslie, was released on bail and is due to be sentenced next month. (Adjacent to Kwik Save car park, Paisley Road West)