Pervert who groped girl, 13, in West Lothian Poundland before going on run ordered to pay her £1000

A predatory pervert who groped a young girl in a Poundland store has been ordered to pay her £1000 compensation.

Stephen Wardrop grabbed the 13-year-old after following her round the shop in Livingston Centre, West Lothian.

As she looked at items on the shelf the paedo touched her bottom over her clothing.

He then took her by the arm and pressed and rubbed his body against her in a sexual way, Livingston Sheriff Court was told.

Wardrop, 48, of Muirfield Way, Livingston, appeared for sentence after earlier pleading guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a child under 16.

His denial that he caused a disturbance by pursuing the girl round the shop before attacking her on 27 April 2019 was accepted by the Crown.

Wardrop claimed that he had placed his hands on the teenager to move her out of the way.

He initially denied there was any sexual intent and claimed the physical contact with her had been accidental.

Following his guilty plea, however, social workers assessed him as being at medium risk of committing further sexual offences.

Sheriff John MacRitchie said it was appropriate for the victim of the sexual predator to be compensated for her ordeal.

He told the supermarket worker to pay £1000 to the court before 19 March.

He placed him under social work supervision for two years and ordered him to carry out 96 hours of unpaid work in the community within six months.

In addition he added Wardrop’s name to the Sex Offenders’ register for two years and imposed a conduct requirement banning him from approaching or contacting any child under the age of 18 without the prior approval of his supervising officer.

Wardrop disappeared from West Lothian a month after interfering with the schoolgirl, the court heard.

He was last seen leaving work at the Sainsbury's supermarket in Almondvale Retail Park at around 1pm on Sunday 19 May 2019.

He was reported missing by his family five days later – on Friday 24 May.

While there was one possible sighting of him at Bathgate Gala Day on Saturday 1 June, police searched the area and were unable to trace him.

After repeated public appeals Police Scotland eventually tracked him down to the South of England on 18 February – after nine months on the run.