Cumnock: Scheme's Dayna on sex offenders register for kiss

Dayna McLaughlan was put on the sex offenders register after pleading guilty to charges of sexual assault and threatening or abusive behaviour in Cumnock.

The 32-year-old, who appeared in the BAFTA-winning BBC series The Scheme 14 years ago, barged into a man’s home in the town’s Wylie Crescent on October 4, 2023, demanding a cigarette.

She then pushed the man on to a bed, jumped on top of him and tried to kiss him.

The incident happened weeks after McLaughlan removed her jacket outside her own home in the same street, exposing her breasts and gesticulating in an aggressive manner.

Not guilty pleas to several other charges were accepted after a deal was struck with prosecutors ahead of a hearing at Ayr Sheriff Court.

Describing the incident in which McLaughlan exposed herself in public, procurator fiscal depute Alasdair Millar said: "The witness was a neighbour who was in the kitchen of her property when she was told by her 13-year-old daughter that Dayna McLaughlan was outside in the street.

"The witness looked outside and saw the accused remove her jacket, thereafter exposing her naked breasts. It was two o’clock in the afternoon.

"The accused began shouting for her pet cat. She stayed outside for a few minutes then went back into the property.

"Five minutes later, the witness had moved to the living room, and observed the accused at the window in her own home, giving the witness the middle finger. 

"The witness went to her own front door and shouted to the accused, asking what she was doing. The accused began shouting and screaming at the witness. 

"The accused shouted 'I don't know what's f***ing in you' and called her a "fat f***ing w***e'. It was noted the accused was in a state of intoxication.

"In relation to charge one the Crown does not intend to suggest there was a significant sexual element to that charge."

READ MORE: Warrant issued for reality TV star after she fails to show for Ayr court date

Describing the second incident, Mr Millar told the court: "At 8.45pm the witness and a friend were in the home address of the witness.

"At that time the accused attended the door asking for a cigarette. The accused was known to the witness. She was let in but it was indicated she was to remain at the door.

"He made his way to the rear bedroom and she followed him in. She took off her coat at the bottom of the bed. The accused was also sitting on the bed.

"The accused stood up, made her way round, stood in front of the witness and pushed him onto the bed. She pushed him down on his back and the accused jumped on top of him attempting to kiss him. 

"The witness did not want that, and attempted to get the accused away.

"He left the bedroom, entering the toilet in an attempt to distance himself from the accused."    

McLaughlan was the subject of a bail order at the time of the offence.

Ayr Sheriff Court, where Dayna McLaughlan was released on bail after pleading guilty to two charges. (Image: Google Street View)

Defence solicitor Sandy Currie told Sheriff Maria Kicinski that his client had been in custody since April 15, but that she still had her tenancy available to her on her release from prison.

Mr Currie said: “Ms McLaughlan has had an addiction to class A heroin for a number of years. After being fairly successful for two years on a community payback order Ms McLaughlan has fallen by the wayside.

"She was in a state where she didn't know what she was doing, as a result of heroin and street valium. Since being remanded she has undergone detoxification in Greenock prison.

"She is clean just now; she looks better than she has done in a long time. 

"The behaviour was so bizarre and unusual, and clearly that of someone not sure what they were doing."

Sheriff Kicinski told McLaughlan she would be released on bail pending background social work reports ahead of sentencing at a later date.

The judge added: "I'm pleased to hear progress has been made in custody.

“I hope being in the community doesn't expose you. Stay well and capitalise on this detoxification in prison.”

READ MORE: Ayrshire TV documentary star smacked by sister in brawl 'like children fighting over sweeties'

Sheriff Kicinski urged McLaughlan to make the most of the SHINE programme, a mentoring service for women in the criminal justice system, and told her that because she had pleaded guilty to a sexual offence she would be put on the register, with the length of time she’ll remain there to be decided when she is sentenced.

The Scheme followed the lives of six families in the Onthank and Knockinlaw housing schemes in Kilmarnock

But it attracted praise and criticism in equal measure, with some labelling it “poverty porn” and claiming that it gave a misleading impression of life in the two areas and exploited many of those who appeared on screen - accusations denied by the programme's makers.

It was chosen as the winner of the ‘best factual series’ prize at the 2011 BAFTA Scotland awards.