A man who was caught performing a solo sex act in a Stonehaven alleyway while wearing a thong and high heels has said he “regrets” his actions.
Ryan McAndrew was spotted by members of the community while parading around the backstreets of the fishing town in cream or gold-coloured heels and woman’s underwear.
The 38-year-old then lowered his thong and carried out a sexual act in the street.
He then went on to carry out similar indecent behaviour in another Stonehaven alleyway just over a month later.
When he was arrested, McAndrew was found to be in possession of a bag full of women’s underwear.
Appearing for sentencing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday, McAndrew told the court he had “remorse” for his actions and apologised to members of the public who witnessed his behaviour.
Residents heard high heels in alleyway
Fiscal depute Jennifer Pritchard told the court at a previous hearing that at around 4am on August 29 2022, a witness was in his bedroom at home with the window open when he heard someone walking past wearing high heels.
When the resident heard the heels walking past twice more, he thought it was “strange” and looked outside.
The witness saw a figure wearing “a black jacket, thong underwear, a beanie hat and cream or golden coloured high heels”.
At first, he believed the person to be female but quickly realised it was, in fact, a man.
The shocked witness then saw McAndrew with his underwear lowered, performing a sex act for around 10 seconds before walking away.
Separate indecent incident
In a separate incident, around 9pm on October 5 2022, a 67-year-old man saw McAndrew pacing around the lane next to his garden.
He believed McAndrew was waiting for something and “seemed to have taken an interest in his open back door”.
The pensioner then recognised McAndrew, having seen him in the lane before, and noticed he was wearing a black jacket, white underpants, a black woolly hat and high heels.
Ms Pritchard told the court: “The witness thought this was suspicious and started to contact the police”.
While waiting to be connected, McAndrew exposed himself and performed a sex act as he walked down the lane.
He then disappeared behind a shed briefly and reappeared wearing a pair of black skinny jeans.
McAndrew was not traced immediately but, when the pensioner spotted him again on October 27, he called the police who arrived and arrested McAndrew.
The officers found him in possession of a black rucksack containing female underwear and holding a pair of high heels.
McAndrew, of HMP Grampian, pled guilty to charges of public indecency and intentionally exposing his genitals in a sexual manner.
‘I do apologise’
Representing himself, McAndrew stated in mitigation that his actions had been down to drinking alcohol and that he was working on his problems.
“I regret what I did and I have remorse,” he said.
“I will be working towards not drinking and using alcohol – I do apologise.”
Sheriff Andrew Miller stated to McAndrew that alcohol “played a large part” in his offending.
“Most of my previous charges have been based on alcohol,” McAndrew replied.
Sentencing McAndrew, Sheriff Miller said that although McAndrew’s offence involved indecency and members of the public, the way he was dressed was “not directed at members of the public”.
He added that McAndrew’s actions appear to have arisen from “arrangements” made by him online to meet others for “consensual activity”, according to a social work report.
“That does not deflect from these offences but probably does explain why you were there,” the sheriff continued.
As an alternative to a prison sentence, Sheriff Miller handed McAndrew a community payback order with supervision for three years and ordered him to carry out 150 unpaid work.
He will also have to wear an electronic tag for 18 weeks and take part in a sex offenders rehabilitation programme.
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