Cross-dresser who left women terrified walks free from court

Mar 16 2010 Paisley Daily Express

A WEIRDO who left three women terrified when he followed them around a Paisley beauty spot while he was wearing a dress and false boobs walked free from court yesterday.

Retired college lecturer Christopher Darnborough was allowed to leave the dock after he agreed to confine episodes of his cross-dressing fetish to his own home in future.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard that Darnborough’s victims had gone for a stroll on the Gleniffer Braes when they spotted him walking about in a “flouncy skirt, cardigan and false breasts.”

And, when he started following the worried trio, they jumped into their car, locked the doors and dialled 999.

Police soon arrived at the scene and nicked father-of-two Darnborough.

At a previous court appearance, 60-year-old Darnborough admitted conducting himself in a disorderly manner by following the three women at the Robertson Park car park on March 15 last year, placing them in a state of fear and alarm due to his bizarre behaviour and clothing and committing a breach of the peace.

Depute fiscal Linda Martin had told the court that part of Darnborough’s bizarre outfit included a bucket which was attached to his backside to make his skirt stick out.

She said that the three women were totally perplexed by the accused’s strange antics.

Ms Martin added: “He walked briskly towards them, then followed the three women at a distance of about three metres. He appeared to be showing off – parading for the benefit of others.

“They went to their car and locked the doors.”

As the women – aged 18, 48 and 58 – watched in disbelief, Darnborough bent over, causing his skirt to ride up over his false bottom.

The trio wrote down his vehicle’s registration number and called the cops.

When officers arrived to quiz Darnborough, he admitted he had a fetish and said there was an extra element of risk which added to his fantasy from being dressed as a woman in public.

Defence agent Phil Rooney had earlier told the court his client – who turned up for his hearing sporting a full beard – was a divorced professional man who had two sons and a partner, all of whom knew about his ‘hobby’.

Mr Rooney added: “Cross-dressing is not in itself an offence but he has difficulty here because of the fear and alarm he caused to others.”

Sheriff Derek Livingston had deferred sentence for six months and ordered the accused to be of good behaviour after he was assured that the Crown felt there was no underlying sexual element to the offence.

When Darnborough, of Gardener Street, Glasgow, returned to court yesterday, Mr Rooney said his client had learned his lesson and knew that, in future if he wished to continue to act out such a fetish, he would have to confine his activities to his home in order to avoid causing alarm to others.

The lawyer added that Darnborough had not meant to cause any harm through his activities.

Sheriff David Pender admonished the accused and warned him: “I suspect that it might be very wise for you to remain indoors if you do decide to persist.”