A man who left a young girl terrified after following her onto a bus in Motherwell and bombarding her with personal questions has been placed under supervision by a court.
The offender approached the youngster at a bus stop before boarding the same bus, where he stared at her and began asking intrusive questions about her life. The girl, clearly frightened by his behaviour, was left deeply shaken by the encounter.
The incident, which took place in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, prompted a police investigation after the girl reported how the man had made her feel unsafe. Witnesses on the bus are understood to have observed the uncomfortable and threatening behaviour.
The case came before the courts where the man was dealt with through a supervision order rather than a custodial sentence. The decision means he will be monitored and subject to conditions designed to manage his behaviour and reduce the risk he poses to members of the public, particularly young people.
Cases like this highlight ongoing concerns about the safety of young people using public transport alone, with many parents in the area expressing worry about similar incidents going unreported. Community groups in Lanarkshire have previously called for better safety measures on local bus routes, including improved CCTV coverage and clearer reporting procedures for passengers who feel threatened.
Authorities continue to encourage anyone who feels unsafe or witnesses suspicious behaviour on public transport to report it immediately to police or bus staff.