Man handed fine and payback order over subway station sexual assault

Alistair McMillan berated the woman with a tirade of sexually explicit comments before assaulting her at the subway station last year.

Man handed fine and payback order over Glasgow Buchanan Street subway station sexual assault — The woman was attacked on the stairs of Buchanan Street station. iStock

James Delaney

12th Jul 2022

A man who made sexually explicit comments to a woman at a Glasgow subway station before assaulting her has been given a community payback order.

Alistair McMillan was sentenced after approaching the woman on the stairs at Buchanan Street Station on August 21 last year.

The 38-year-old touched the woman “inappropriately” while making a litany of graphic remarks.

The victim later reported the incident to British Transport Police (BTP) officers who launched an appeal to track him down.

McMillan was fined £1,000 and handed a year-long payback order after being found guilty of breaching section three, Sexual Offences (Scotland) 2009 and section 7 Sexual Offences (Scotland) 2009 for communicating indecently at Glasgow sheriff court on Friday, July 8.

BTP detective constable Andrew Shields said: “Sexual offending will absolutely not be tolerated on the rail network. Everyone has the right to travel and feel safe.

“We will always take reports of sexual offences seriously when they are reported to us. In this case following our media appeal, McMillan handed himself in to the police. We were then able to bring him before the courts.”

DC Shields added: “If you are ever a victim of a sexual offence or sexual harassment on the railway network, you can text us discreetly on 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40. In an emergency always call 999.”