SNS GroupA man who sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl on a bus and was later identified by his Celtic beanie hat has been jailed for 18 months.
Francis Harper, 54, preyed on the 13-year-old in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, on December 12, 2025.
Harper initially spoke about football with his victim before he went on to stroke her on the cheek.
Harper then kissed the girl on the cheek and motioned for her to give him one back which she did as she felt “intimidated.”
Police who reviewed CCTV of the incident later recovered the club beanie hat from Harper’s home before he was arrested.
Harper pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to sexual assault.
He also admitted a separate charge of public indecency.
Sheriff Andrew McIntyre placed Harper under supervision for 12 months upon his release from prison. He was also put on the sex offenders register for ten years.
The court previously heard that the girl boarded the 241 bus near an Aldi supermarket in Motherwell at 1.50pm.
The girl who was sat near the accused noticed that he was wearing a Celtic beanie hat.
Prosecutor Danielle McGuinness said: “She started a conversation in relation to football and asked if he had been to a Celtic game.
“Harper told her that he does not go to them and ‘I hope we beat them on Sunday’.”
Harper initially got up believing that it was his stop and put his fist out for a fist bump with the girl then asked her name.
The girl told her her name and she asked for his and he replied: “Francis.”
Harper sat back down and the girl noticed him staring at her face.
Ms McGuinness said: “He lunged towards her and placed the right side of his hand on her cheek.”
Harper went on to talk about her face and kissed her on the cheek.
Ms McGuinness added: “Harper positioned his face which intimated that he was looking for the girl to return a kiss to his cheek.
“She kissed him on the cheek as she was scared and intimidated.”
Harper asked her if she lived with her parents and she replied: “Yes.”
He inquired if she lived locally and she stated “sort of” as she did not want to tell him where she stayed.
Harper then got off the bus as did the girl at a later stop.
The girl’s mother noted that her daughter was “shocked” and was able to get her to describe the incident. The police were contacted.
Ms McGuinness said: “CCTV inquiries were carried out and an officer saw Harper and identified him.
“Officers attended his address and noted the Celtic beanie hat that Harper had been wearing which was lying on the sofa.”
Harper was then arrested.
The court also heard of an earlier incident in which Harper exposed himself to an 11-year-old girl and performed a sex act.
The incident took place at a bus stop outside a Morrisons supermarket in Glasgow’s Gallowgate.
Harper was reported and he was arrested at a nearby pub.
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