An ice cream shop owner in Inverkeithing engaged in sexual activity with a 14-year-old schoolgirl after grooming her for months.
Sean McGowan’s business, Catered With Love, closed down after protests when his actions came to light.
For more than two months, McGowan groomed the girl, groped and kissed her, asked her to send him naked photos of herself and said he wanted to have sex with her.
One of the messages stated: “You could get me in a lot of bother LOL” and another read, “It could get me jailed”.
Other messages were about him not having on underwear and asking to see naked photos of her.
The 38-year-old was found guilty after a trial at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.
Groomed girl from ice cream shop
McGowan was found guilty of a charge that between March 16 and May 26 2020 at ‘Catered With Love’, King Street, Inverkeithing, a location at South Queensferry and elsewhere, he engaged in sexual activity with a girl, then aged 14.
The charge stated he repeatedly kissed her, touched her on the body, touched her on the buttocks and slapped her on the buttocks.
He also sent her sexual written communications, repeatedly asked that she send him naked images of her buttocks and repeatedly told her he wanted her to be the person she lost her virginity to.
The girl’s mother was concerned about her daughter’s behaviour as she became more secretive, especially about what was on her phone.
When she checked the device, she discovered the messages from McGowan and the police were contacted.
‘Just a bit of banter’ excuse
In his evidence, McGowan said when his messages were read out in court he “felt very uncomfortable”.
However, he claimed, “There was nothing untoward.
“It was all just in a friendly manner – just a bit of banter and jokes.
“It wasn’t sexual.”
He said of his texts about not wearing boxer shorts: “It wasn’t appropriate.
“I can’t deny that but it wasn’t sexual.”
In her evidence, the girl said she had sent naked photos but McGowan denied this.
She also said he used code words in his messages such as “stickers”, which meant kisses.
‘Witch-hunt’ claim
McGowan, formerly of Auchtermuchty, and now of Earlston Way, Macedonia, Glenrothes, told the court he had lost his business as a result of a “witch-hunt” against him, including on social media.
Sheriff David Hall told McGowan he rejected his evidence and found the young girl to be a “credible and reliable witness”.
Sheriff Hall called for reports and put McGowan on the Sex Offenders Register.
He will be sentenced on November 9.
‘Catered with Love’ was a shop specialising in waffles, milkshakes, pancakes, churros, cakes and 30 different flavours of ice cream.
The shop grew out of a catering business which saw McGowan and his business partner turning out up to 500 cheesecakes a week.
The business also catered for weddings, functions, birthdays and anniversaries.
Companies House states the business was dissolved on March 22.
