A 27-YEAR-OLD man who offered to supply a 16-year-old girl with alcohol and drugs has been fined £250 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Shane Cowan pleaded guilty to shouting, acting in an aggressive manner and offering to supply alcohol and drugs to the girl to her fear and alarm in Currie Road and Abbotsford Road, in Galashiels, on August 26 last year.

Depute fiscal Fiona Hamilton said the incident happened at around 7pm when the girl was walking between the Transport Interchange and Asda when the accused – who was not known to the girl – shouted at her asking if she was okay and then asked: “Do you smoke, do you drink and do you do drugs – we could do other things.”

The girl was worried about the nature of the conversation and went to a friend’s house and told the friend’s mother what had happened.

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Cowan was standing at a bus stop and the friend’s mother approached him and asked what had happened and was concerned he was under the influence of something and contacted the police.

Cowan said he had spoken to the girl but insisted he had done nothing wrong.

Defence lawyer Liam Alexander said his client had been consuming alcohol throughout the day and recalled having discussions with the girl and said the girl had spoken to him first.

He accepted what was said could have caused fear and alarm.

Mr Alexander said it was out of character for Cowan who had no record of offending.

In addition to the fine, Cowan, of Castlegate, Jedburgh, was ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.