Latest Offenders Glasgow

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A MAN who admitted sexually assaulting a 'vulnerable' woman alone in her home has been jailed.

Shahzaib Hassan was also added to the sex offenders register for 10 years after pleading guilty to attacking the victim in Dalrymple.

The 26-year-old was heard to have been previously 'denied responsibility' to social workers - after he admitted pushing his hands between her body and arms and touching her breasts during the incident on December 21, 2023.

An allegation that he also massaged her shoulders and arms, knowing she did not want this to happen, was deleted from the same charge, in a plea deal with prosecutors.

Sentencing was previously deferred for criminal justice social work reports and a risk assessment for Hassan, of High Croft Avenue, Glasgow.

When he returned to court, Sheriff Shirley Foran said she was "concerned of denials" in background reports, with "comments attributed" that were "completely contradictory" to his plea.

The court heard Hassan was "due to be married in his home country". Sheriff Foran added: "I want him to be in this country."

Sentencing had to be deferred again, with the offender then being abroad on the previous calling.

When he returned to court on March 25, his solicitor said: "He had been dreadfully embarrassed in front of social work and spoke stupidly.

"He is positive he was not factually correct [in denying responsibility].

"He accepts this was an offence he did intentionally and no accident.

"He tells me he would adhere to any non-custodial disposal.

"He is embarrassed by his conduct and expressly asked me to convey his apologies to the court as well as the victim."

Sheriff Foran said: "This woman allowed you entry and you attacked her in her home when alone and vulnerable. I see little remorse.

"I consider this predatory behaviour requires to be marked by a custodial sentence."

He was jailed for 36 weeks, discounted from 40 after his guilty plea.

The sheriff added: "You will now be subject to sex offender notification requirements for 10 years."

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A CUMNOCK sex offender caught with child abuse images and secretly-recorded films in toilet cubicles and school changing rooms has avoided jail.

Greg Richard was placed under strict supervision and will have his internet usage and any relationships monitored by the authorities after he admitted possessing indecent photos of youngsters, including a child being seriously sexually assaulted.

The 21-year-old, now of Bellgrove Street, Calton, Glasgow, also pleaded guilty to making voyeuristic images of males sitting in toilet cubicles and 'in school uniform' secretly recorded while they were getting changed.

The camera-shy creep previously hid in the male toilets at Ayr Sheriff Court from the Chronicle’s reporter for more than an hour, after he pleaded guilty last month.

The court heard Richard had since shown a 'high level of remorse'.

Procurator fiscal depute Alasdair Millar previously told the court that police officers attended Richard's then home in Kyle Court, Cumnock on June 1, 2023, with a search warrant.

A number of devices were recovered and amongst the sexually explicit material found, there were 117 unique still images, 114 of which were accessible. They showed males aged from four to 16.

Forty-three moving images were found on both devices, all accessible, with ages ranging from three to 16.

The descriptions of the images, including a child aged between three and five, being subjected to a serious sexual assault by an adult, are too horrific to be reported in detail.

Mr Millar added: "Regarding charge three, police found videos and voyeuristic images.

"Examples include a 55-second video in a changing room, with the camera often covered by a hand, showing various males getting changed into school uniforms.

"Next is a 110-second video in a changing room setting, again showing various males in school uniform getting changed into sportswear, focusing on one male in particular.

"A nine-second video in a classroom setting filmed under a desk shows a male in school uniform grabbing his genitals.

"They found a still image of a male sitting on a toilet using his phone taken from above a neighbouring toilet, his underwear is down below his thighs, it is not possible to determine his age.

"There is another still image in a toilet cubicle again and thereafter a video of the same thing.

"The Crown intend to destroy all of the devices."

When he returned for sentencing this week defence solicitor Christopher Large said first offender Richard "shows a high level of remorse" and self-referred to a support service.

The solicitor said: "He intends to engage in further psychological work with the organisation.

"I'm asking to impose supervision with conduct requirements.

"Mr Richard has already faced a degree of opprobrium in the community, he has lost close friends and even family as a result. He has had to leave the local area due to press coverage.

"He spoke to me of not feeling like leaving the house at all. There is a degree of pillorying of people for these offences.

"He will always carry negative press coverage and disgust at the offences, Google his name, that's what comes up.

"In my submission, the level of disapproval shown by those close to him and the public mitigates the sentence to a degree.

"The quantity of images is relatively low. I think he knows the wrong this harm causes."

Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart said: "Mr Richard I have already made clear I will step back from custody sentence.

"Moving forward you are going to have to accept the seriousness of this offending. Whatever you and others might think these are not victimless crimes.

"When photographs like this are accessed there is an industry that builds up.

"You have made significant steps forward yourself to address this, you have to continue to do so, and I need to ensure you stay on this path."

He was placed on a community payback order with supervision as an alternative to custody and must take part in the Moving Forward, Making Changes programme, which aims to address such offending.

He was placed on the sex offenders register for two years.

Richard was told he must have no unsupervised contact with any children under 16, and he will have his internet use and any relationships monitored.

He will return to court for a review at a later date, with Sheriff MacTaggart adding: "If there is a positive report I will consider amending the order."

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The man behind the viral Willy Wonka Experience has been exposed as a sex pest who left a woman traumatised and is now on the sex offenders register.

William Coull, 36, hounded his victim at a property in Glasgow’s Darnley between March 26 and July 2 2024.

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A Glasgow sex offender kept his past secret as he accepted a job to work in schools.

John Paul Hogg had been jailed in 2011 and later banned indefinitely from any role involving children. But, a decade later, the 46 year-old went on to take up the offer by an educational IT firm for a post that included "unsupervised" work in schools.

Hogg did not reveal his previous conviction - and it was only when background checks were made that it emerged at the last minute.

Hogg has now narrowly avoided a jail term as he appeared in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court. He pleaded guilty to a charge under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act.

The date of the offence was March 1, 2022.

Hogg, of the city's Sandyhills, was ordered to carry out unpaid work as a concerned sheriff told him: "You should have been well aware of these restrictions."

Hogg had been locked up for 12 months in 2011 for a sex offence. He was later barred from "regulated work" with children indefinitely. Fiscal Lauren Donnelly said it was also explained to him that it was an offence to seek or do a job which involved this.

In 2021, he was temporarily employed as a service desk engineer with a company called RM Education. They work with the educational sector including providing technology and software. His line manager told him there was a full time post for that job with schools.

Miss Donnelly said: "He advised he thought he would be suitable for the role and asked if Hogg would consider applying." It was explained to Hogg that the role could involve "on-site" work which was "unsupervised".

This then meant Hogg would have to apply to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme given the type of job it was. Hogg said he was interested and accepted the offer. He was also given a PVG application to complete.

In March 2022, Disclosure Scotland - who makes checks on individuals being recruited for certain jobs - later reviewed this and it was only then discovered Hogg was "barred from regulated work with children".

Hogg was told the PVG application had been rejected.

The fiscal: "He was asked by (his line manager) if he was aware why this would have happened. He explained he was barred from regulated work with children.

"Hogg was asked why he did not make them aware of this. He stated: 'People always say they will do a check, but they do not'."

Hogg was initially suspended before being fired by RM Education. Disclosure Scotland went on to contact police.

He was charged in November 2022 and claimed: "In my job, we had no contact with children." Hogg's lawyer told the court the latest offence came from a "genuine misunderstanding" on his part.

Ciara Bradley, defending, said Hogg had been put on the sex offenders register for 10 years and this had ended in December 2021.

Miss Bradley: "He thought he was no longer required to disclose this offence to future employers.

"The company took on contracts with other agencies and entered into a contract with a school. That is when he was required to submit an application. He did so as he thought the requirements had ended."

Hogg was now said to have "turned his life around" and had another job in technology.

Sheriff Collete Gallagher said the offence "crossed the custody threshold", but she instead told Hogg to carry out 108 hours of unpaid work as part of an 18-month community payback order.

She stated: "Legalities are put in place to protect vulnerable people including children.

"Ignorance is no excuse for this matter. The fact you had a number of opportunities to disclose your previous conviction is a concern as is your attitude.

"I consider that this lack of insight presents a risk to the community."

Hogg was told again he should have no contact with children without permission from a supervising officer. He also has to declare "any romantic relationships" and get permission before he changes address.

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A police officer sexually assaulted four women on the night he was hailed a hero at the Scottish First Aid awards.

David Jones, 36, was at the event at Glasgow's Radisson Blu hotel in March 2023 for his role in facing-down a knife-wielding man in Edinburgh.

He was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court of groping a firefighter, a swimming instructor, her sister and a paramedic student.

He was given 150 hours of unpaid work. Police Scotland said Jones had been suspended and would face misconduct proceedings.

Jones, who had been an officer for six years, was recognised at the ceremony along with three colleagues for “heroic acts of bravery”.

The officers had faced a mentally-ill man with a knife while responding to reports of a gas leak. They provided first aid and managed to evacuate the area.

Jones, from Auchterarder in Perthshire, collected the event’s Chairperson’s Award with his colleagues.

Sheriff McIntyre told him: "It’s not lost on anyone that you were receiving an award that evening for your vital efforts and first aid.

"You made a considerable contribution to our community. None of that takes away from the obvious distress your conduct caused."

“Your victims were public servants celebrating their success that they were being commended for. You ruined that evening for them."

The trial heard how the award recipients had partied to an ABBA tribute act and DJ after the ceremony.

The 23-year-old paramedic student told the court how Jones made several attempts to dance with her.

She said he tried to grab her breast before putting his hand under her dress. The witness told the trial she had suffered from PTSD since the incident.

The 30-year-old firefighter said she felt a "distinctive bump on my back then a grab on my bum".

The swimming instructor, aged 23, told of an "uncomfortable interaction" with a stranger who groped her breast.

She said: "I told him to get away from me."

But the man remained near her group before he approached her sister.

She said she was "grabbed more vigorously" leaving her "uncomfortable and intimidated".

Jones was later thrown out by security for being drunk and encroaching on the personal space of the women.

He told the trial he "potentially" came into physical contact with them, but said he would have stopped dancing with them had they refused.

The father-of-two claimed he "did not know why" he had been kicked out of the awards.

He accepted he may have apologised to the one of the women, but that they were "mistaken by thinking it was something it was not".

His lawyer Christopher Shaw said his client maintains his innocence.

He added: “Mr Jones is a man with good character and knows his position is now untenable. His employment is now over.”

Ch Supt Helen Harrison, Police Scotland head of professional standards, said that damage is caused to public trust "by the actions of those who do not uphold the standards we expect in policing".

She added: "The officer remains suspended and will be the subject of misconduct proceedings."

Jones was found not guilty of a further three sexual assault allegations.

Sheriff Andrew McIntyre ordered him to do 150 hours of unpaid work, put him under supervision and on the sex offenders' register for one year.

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A sick predator has been jailed after jurors found him guilty of raping a woman

Philip Gaddis, 24, was found guilty following a trial at  Leeds Crown Court and earlier this month was jailed for six years. His victim was 20 when Gaddis, of Main Street, Glasgow, attacked her in the Mirfield area in 2019.

Following his conviction, the woman's sister - who must not be named for legal reasons - has spoken out and said he had admitted the offence in a message. She said the first trial resulted in a hung jury, but Gaddis was finally convicted this year.

The woman said: "She woke up to him having sex with her...She told me the day after it happened and I said, 'It's rape, we need to go to the police,' but she didn't want to talk about it or report it.'"

It was said the rape was eventually reported after Gaddis "admitted it over message a number of times in different circumstances," the woman said. She said: "He was charged and released on bail."

The court confirmed that Gaddis was also released on bail between the guilty verdict and his sentencing, something which the victim's sister said was "unjustifiable". She said his strict bail conditions included him not contacting her sister, but said the decision to release him on bail was still an "unjustifiable risk in my eyes".

She added: "He could have done anything else he wanted for three weeks. He went to a concert in that time...We were a bit worried he wouldn't turn up because he lived in Scotland but he did.

"She read her victim impact statement in court - it was one of the hardest things I have seen...When he was found guilty at the end of the trial he started crying. He was crying and said, 'I didn't do it.'"

The woman said she was "just relieved" when the verdict came in and said: "It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to see my sister and best friend go through. It has destroyed her in so many ways and I am just grateful it is over and it was recognised, what he did.

"I'm just happy he is going to be put away for years and it's going to protect other women and hopefully when he is in prison he gets the time to reflect and reform."

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A serial sex offender and convicted killer was able to carry out a series of rapes after a sheriff ruled he was not a danger to the public.

Mohammed Akram, 64, was the first offender to get his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) lifted which meant he was no longer under constant police supervision.

But even as Sheriff Nigel Morrison freed him from the order, Akram had already began abusing his latest victim and continued to rape her for another five years after the controversial decision.

He is now facing a lengthy jail sentence after being convicted of the new attacks at the High Court in Glasgow last month.

But the case has raised questions over the controversial decision made by the Sheriff against advice from police and a pyschologist.

Sandy Brindley, Chief Executive, Rape Crisis Scotland: “The criminal justice system should work to protect survivors, and members of the community. Whenever decisions about sentences or restrictions for convicted perpetrators are made, a sense of justice for the survivor should never be lost.”

Conditions of Akram’s SOPO meant him being under constant supervision and he also had to inform a police handler of every contact he had with women who were not relatives, including new relationships.

He was handed the SOPO after being convicted of a serious sexual assault on a 16-year-old girl in 2003.

Police had applied for it in April 2014 after Akram was identified as a future risk to women.

During the 2017 hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, psychologist Dr Ewan Lundie said the risk of Akram reoffending was high - based on his past behaviour.

But Sheriff Morrison dismissed the concerns of Police Scotland in his judgement and even ordered the force to pay court costs.

Last month Akram was convicted of repeatedly raping one woman between December 2010 and March 1 2022.

The attacks happened at a flat in Newhaven, Edinburgh and Pollokshields, Glasgow.

Akram was also found guilty of raping the same woman in Edinburgh in March 2021 and of repeated assaults between 1995 and 2000 in Glasgow and Clackmannan.

Jurors heard she was not his only victim.

He also raped a vulnerable girl at a flat in Stirling in January 1997. The physical violence included him headbutting and spitting on her, hurling plates of food as well as brandishing a knife.

The court heard if Akram did not get what he wanted, he “would go mental”. Sexual contact was also “on his terms”.

Prosecutor Kath Harper said: “The Mohammed Akram described in this court is not one you recognise?”

He replied: “I thought I was fine.”

He also claimed the account given by the girl he raped in 1997 was “100 per cent” lies. She has since passed away. He claimed she had initiated sexual contact.

The prosecutor questioned why a “young upset and vulnerable girl” at the time would have done this.

Akram replied: “Why are you shocked? Is it because I am an older man now?”

He was also found guilty of five charges against a third female - three rapes, attempted murder and indecent assault - committed between June 1999 and October 2001 at addresses across Scotland including Aberdeen and Stirling.

Akram - who denied the accusations - did not appear from the cells to hear the verdicts at the High Court in Glasgow.

He is due to be sentenced later this month by trial judge Gillian Wade K.C.

Akram has a string of convictions for serious crimes stretching back 45 years.

He was locked up for five years in 1979 for the culpable homicide of a man behind a pub in Glenrothes, Fife.

In 2003, he was then handed an eight year sentence for the sexual assault of the teenage girl.

Akram was later released, but went on to be convicted in 2012 of abusing a four year-old girl.

But the conviction was overturned after the trial judge misdirected jurors.

Davy Thompson, Campaign Director for White Ribbon, which aims to end men’s violence against women, said: “Recent cases have once again raised the need for sexual offences at all levels to be taken seriously, for rigorous measures to be available to monitor offenders, and for infringements of court orders to be addressed.”

Scottish Conservative deputy justice spokesperson Sharon Dowey MSP said: “The relentless weakening of the justice system means dangerous criminals like this are all too often free to offend again.

“Our cash-strapped police force must be given the resources they need in order to ensure offenders like this can be robustly monitored and properly punished for their appalling crimes.”

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, which represents high court judges, said: “We do not comment on live or individual cases.”

Police Scotland declined to comment on Akram’s latest conviction and Sheriff Morrison, who has now retired, also declined to comment.

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A high-risk sex offender has been booted off the Falkland Islands and back onto Scotland’s streets.

Sheep shearer Roland Wedgwood-Orekoya was jailed in the South Atlantic for a terrifying attack on a teenage girl he lured to his home.

But the 32-year-old has now landed in Britain – with a warning he presents a danger to women.

Police chiefs went to court in Glasgow last week to make sure he signs the sex offender register.

Wedgwood-Orekoya – known as Seyi – has travelled the world working on farms and has strong connections to Aberdeenshire.

But in 2021 he arrived on the Falklands, taking jobs as a shearer and in the fishing industry.

In April 2022 he struck up a conversation with his victim as they queued at a late-night burger van in capital Port Stanley.

The girl was drunk but made clear she wasn’t interested in him. But, according to the court, Wedgwood-Orekoya “clearly intended luring her back to [his] accommodation in order to have sex with her”. He offered to share his stash of cannabis if she went to his digs.

When they arrived, though, he stripped naked and tried to force himself on her, tearing off some of her clothes and leaving her bruised in the “sustained assault”.

She escaped after punching the predator. Wedgwood-Orekoya denied sexual assault but was found guilty.

A probation report said his “transient lifestyle”, flitting between countries to shear sheep, added to the danger he poses.

Sentencing him to 18 months’ jail, judge Malcolm Simmons told him: “You have been assessed as being a high risk of harm to the public, namely females, especially those to whom you are s exually attracted. There was clearly a level of violence in the way you
manhandled your victim.

“This was clearly a frightening event for her.

“What occurred was not a momentary touching but a sustained assault.

“She was living at home with her parents, having recently left school. You are a man in your thirties.

“You specifically targeted a particularly vulnerable victim, a young girl who you knew had been drinking. You continue to deny the offence. You have shown no remorse.”

Last week, Police Scotland took legal proceedings at Glasgow Sheriff Court to reduce the risk he poses to women.

The force secured an order to ensure Wedgwood-Orekoya signs the register till 2032.

It means he will have to notify the police of any change of address or name. He will also be subject to frequent monitoring.

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A PERVERT caught with more than 240,000 indecent images of children and extreme pornography was jailed on Friday for 20 months.

Chi Wah Yau, 62, was found with the sick haul at his home in Glasgow's Possilpark on March 7 2022.

Police raided his home and seized a total of 24 discs and 11 hard drives as well as a computer tower unit.

A preliminary examination of the items found there were images of children and extreme porn.

Yau was arrested pending further examination of the devices.

Prosecutor Lauren Sangray stated there were 233,169 moving and still indecent images of children.

These were created between December 2003 and February 2022.

Miss Sangray said: "This was of sexual abuse and exploitation of female and male children between the ages of one and 16."

The fiscal depute added there were a further 8,364 still and moving images of "extreme porn."

Yau pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to possession of indecent images of children and extreme porn.

Susan Gibson, defending, told the sentencing: "He does want help to make sure he does not find himself in a situation like this."

Sheriff Gerard Bonnar said: "Having regard to authorities, punishment and general deterrents, the number contained and the length, there is no appropriate alternative to custody in my view."

Yau was also put on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

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THE furious victim of a ‘despicable’ rapist who went AWOL before his trial ended has blasted the coward - as he was jailed for eight years.

David McCue, 40, absconded before the jury returned its guilty verdicts at the High Court in Glasgow was on the run for two months.

Defence counsel Sarah Livingstone told the court that the beast, from Springboig, Glasgow,  had a ‘mental health meltdown’  and camped in a forest to avoid getting caught.

But the survivor rubbished the pitiful excuses for his disappearing act which prolonged the agony for her and the child victim.

She said: “There are no forests in Springboig - it’s all complete lies.
“He’s protecting the paedophile and rapist lovers who let him stay in their homes for two months.

“Playing the mental health card is pathetic as well.

“The enormity of what he had done has hit him and he’s run away like the coward he is.”

McCue, also known as David Ross, had been found guilty of repeated attacks on a woman in the Glasgow’s  Townhead and Barlanark areas  including while she was asleep.

He was further convicted of sexually assaulting a girl with all  the offences taking place between 2010 and 2018.

His lawyer told the High Court in Inverness: “He was intending to come but everything came crashing down.

“A juror had been excused due to her conduct - shaking her head and he formed the view that matters were not going for him.

“He was overhwelmed and scared of going to prison. He also had suicidal thoughts, went drinking that day and didn’t stop. He was at rock bottom.”

On the sex offences, Ms Livingstone said her client still protested his innocence.

She added: “There can be no mitigating factors to these offences. But there is an absence of anything analogous and there was no evidence in the trial that this was premeditated.”

Sentencing him to seven years for the sex offences and an extra year for contempt of court by failing to appear, judge Olga Pastportikov told him: “Your actions were despicable.

“You robbed a child of her innocence and left a woman thinking she was responsible.

“Both of your victims will hopefully regain some of their lives. Crimes such as yours must attract a custodial sentence.

“Turning to the question of your absconding, you remained at large for two months, acting in wilful defiance of the court’s authority.”

McCue was also placed on the sex offender list indefinitely.

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A transgender serial pervert who groped two woman volunteers at a church cafe and 'flashed her penis' during a work zoom call has been jailed.

53-year-old Jane Beck, who previously worked in the kitchen at the Fed Up drop-in centre in Stranraer, carried out the two attacks between 2021 and last year. 

The sex-pest, previously known as Graeme Beck was originally from Leeds, and had tried to play down the assaults as 'just a wee bit of Strictly.' 

Chillingly whilst living as a man in 2008, Beck was jailed for two years for attacking a sleeping woman he had found on a dating site for Christians and her 'transgender'-ism had been called into question by a previous victim who described her as a 'wolf in sheep's clothing.' 

The Scottish Prison Service declined to confirm to the MailOnline whether Beck has been housed in a male or female prison. 

However following the debacle that saw trans rapist Isla Bryson housed in HMP Cornton Vale earlier this year, the SPS took the decision to halt the movement of all trans prisoners with a history of violence against women into the female estate. 

Beck had initially used the service at Stranraer Baptist Church herself but had began volunteering in 2021.

Describing her offences, fiscal depute Imran Hussein had previously told Stranraer Sheriff Court how Beck had grabbed the first complainer's left arm and 'placed her right hand on the complainer's waist'.

There was also incidents where Beck would 'slide her body against the back' of the victim while walking past.  

Mr Hussein said: 'It was deliberate, sexually motivated and the complainer developed a genuine fear of the accused.'

Another victim accused Beck of touching her back and buttocks while at work and reported her to the police, resulting in his arrest in July 2022, reports the Sun. 

Beck was also investigated for a flashing incident during a conference call for Avon where she worked between  October and December 2021.

Beck's lawyer Michael Kilkerr attempted to argue down this offence at sentencing yesterday, saying: 'Due to her careless approach to the engagement in that video link with her colleagues it resulted in that offence.' 

However Sheriff Anthony McGlennan replied: 'I'm not sure you can call this offence careless.' 

Beck would attend calls wearing a 'loosely tied dressing gown with nothing on underneath' despite being warned about her dress, a court heard. 

The repeat offender had a litany of crimes to her name prior to the latest incident.

In 2008, Beck was jailed for two years and given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order banning him from going near children after he attacked a sleeping woman. 

Years later in July 2021, Beck now identifying as a she attacked again, this time in Dumfriesshire when she lunged at a woman's breasts whilst wearing a dress. 

Speaking to the Sun following her ordeal, the victim described him as a 'wolf in sheep's clothing.'

She said: 'If he was using his birth name Graeme, nobody would go near the animal.

''Beck must be treated as a man because he's a male sexual predator - and he should be put in a man's jail if that's how it ends up.

'Beck demanded to be called 'she' but was not remotely feminine, other than the clothes.

'Beck would continually grope me then laugh it off and say 'c'mon, it's us women together. We need to stick together.

After pleading guilty to groping the 47-year-old woman in November last year, Beck was given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years that banned her from 'any unsupervised contact with a child under 18 without prior approval of your supervising officer except when the contact is inadvertent.'

She was also prohibited from forming any relationships with people without approval from his supervisor.  

Yesterday, Beck was sentenced to 144 days behind bars and issued with non-harassment orders not to approach victims for three years. 

She was also made subject to a sexual offences prevention order of three years and put on the sex offenders' register for seven years.

Sheriff McGlennan said: 'I've considered carefully the submissions and the fact you are subject to a community payback order.

'Nevertheless these offences are serious and your record of offences includes a sexual offence in 2008.

'To deter you from further offending only imprisonment is appropriate.' 

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A SHAMED priest who sexually abused four girls walked free from court today.

Father Neil McGarrity, 68, preyed on his victims at two churches in Glasgow as well as his parish home in the city.

McGarrity played "footsie" under the table with one of the girls and was caught in a "prolonged embrace" with another.

The priest of 33 years, from city's Maryhill, also touched and rubbed the girls with one victim claiming he hugged her while sat on a couch.

A girl even contacted Childline due to her concerns over his behaviour.

McGarrity was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court of four sexual assaults and one charge of engaging in sexual activity.

The charges span from December 2017 and February 2020 with the girls’ ages ranging between 10 to 16.

Sheriff Vincent Lunny ordered McGarrity to do 250 hours of unpaid work and put him under supervision for three years.

He also tagged McGarrity for nine months keeping him indoors between 7pm and 7am.

McGarrity was placed on the sex offenders register for five years.

The trial heard from a girl who said she was repeatedly hugged by McGarrity when she was aged 10 or 11 at St Thomas' Church in the city's Riddrie.

The witness stated that McGarrity made her feel "uncomfortable."

She added that he called her his “favourite” and that she wasn’t to “tell anybody.”

The girl stated she did not tell her parents as she kept it "bottled up."

The victim then recalled being with McGarrity at his parish home in 2020.

She said: “It got too big to handle - we went in the living room and said to come and sit on a spinning chair.

“He wanted me to put my head on him and he cuddled into me.

“I said I can’t do this and I need the toilet.”

The girl added that she was stroked on the arm and hugged by McGarrity.

A second girl told the court that she had no phone Childline about McGarrity not long after meeting him.

She said: "It was that he was being really close and I was getting someone else's view if it was normal.

"I never had really had that much real concern about it as I really liked him."

The girl claimed McGarrity put his hand around and rubbed her waist.

The witness added: "It was along with the hand holding and footsie under the table."

The girl said was rubbed on the chest and arm by McGarrity while at a Christmas Eve service at St Thomas'.

She stated that he kept his hand on her waist and rubbed her lower back like a "massage."

The girl went on to say McGarrity also touched her on the leg on two occasions while he was driving his car.

A third girl told the court McGarrity played with her hair and touched her face when she was 13-years-old.

She said: “He always thought he knew about me and I felt weird.

“When I was at church he used to look at me and I felt uncomfortable.”

The girl added that McGarrity also put his arm around her.

She claimed she told her mum but nobody else as she “did not want to judge someone or be mean.”

The incidents took place at St Bernadette's Church as well as St Thomas'.

A 25-year-old woman claimed she spotted McGarrity and her younger sister being close with each other at his parish home.

The witness said: "When I re-entered the kitchen area where we were eating, he had his arms round my sister's waist and she had her arms round his waist.

"It was a prolonged embrace they were in."

Prosecutor Derek Buchanan asked how her sister reacted.

She replied: "She reacted like a girl in love would react with the man that was touching her."

McGarrity told the court in his evidence that he was "stunned" to hear of the allegations.

Billy Lavelle, defending, asked if there was any truth to the allegations.

McGarrity said: "There was truth in so far as some of the things I did and didn't do."

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Police Scotland has welcomed the sentencing of a former councillor for sexual offences involving teenage boys.

Mark Kerr was sentenced to six years in prison and placed on the Sexual Offenders Register today, Friday 2 December, 2022, at the High Court in Paisley.

On 4 November he was found guilty of nine charges involving offences that took place between May 2012 and May 2020 in Lanarkshire.

Detective Inspector Colin Moffat, of Police Scotland’s National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “Kerr was in a position of responsibility and trust as a local politician but he prayed on teenagers, one of whom he met at an official function. He befriended them and betrayed them.

“I welcome his conviction and placement on the Sexual Offenders Register. Our thoughts are very much with his victims and their bravery in coming forward is commended. I hope they now get some closure with his sentencing.

“Tackling sexual crime is a top priority for Police Scotland and we will work to remove offenders like Kerr from our communities.

“I would urge anyone who has or is the subject of any form of abuse to get in touch with us. We have specialist officers who can assist, no matter when something happened.

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A Helensburgh man who assaulted a dog with a sex toy has now also admitted sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl.

Rory Knox preyed on the child between January 2019 and March 2021.

The 39-year-old repeatedly asked her to open her legs before moving them apart.

Knox also made sexualised comments to her about her friends.

Knox hit the headlines earlier this year when he admitted abusing his partner's dog with a 10cm sex toy. 

He claimed that he was playing with the pet before the toy got "stuck" inside of her.

Knox begged his partner not to take the "stressed" dog to the vet in fear that he would be arrested.

He was later tagged and put under supervision for a year.

Knox pleaded guilty on Tuesday, October 11, to sexually assaulting the 10-year-old girl at a property in Milton of Campsie, East Dunbartonshire.

He also admitted directing sexual communication at a child for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification or to humiliate, distress, or alarm the girl.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard the girl came forward to police about Knox's behaviour towards her.

Prosecutor Hannah Sweeney said: "She recalled being in the kitchen with Knox and she was sitting on the fridge while fully clothed.

"Knox told her to open her legs and she said no.

"She recalled another occasion when she was sitting on the living room couch and she was asked to open her legs.

"She said he put his hands on her knees and parted them before she told him to stop as she didn't like it."

The girl also told officers that Knox made comments such as "I wonder how big their breasts are" after a WhatsApp video call to her friends.

Police later arrested Knox.

Sentence was deferred pending background reports by Sheriff Tom Hughes, who put Knox on the sex offenders register.

Knox had his bail continued meantime.

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A rapist and serial domestic abuser “wept like a baby” after he was found guilty of raping and abusing four women over a long period of time.

Rian Hood sobbed as he was remanded in custody to await sentencing for charges including rape, abduction and assault to danger to life.

The 31-year-old is facing a lengthy prison sentence following a trial at the High Court in Elgin this month. Now, one of Hood’s victims’ has bravely spoken out to call for tougher sentences for men who terrorise their partners.

Jade Doolan told how during their 18-month relationship he banned her from contacting family members, tracked her location using her phone and sexually assaulted her.

She told how cocaine and a gambling addiction turned Hood from a “perfect” boyfriend into a violent control freak, and how his weeping after being convicted had helped her heal the mental scars of his abuse.

She said: “I am tortured everyday by what he did but I’m pleased he’s been found guilty and I hope the courts punish him harshly for the women he has harmed."I was told by another victim who was in court that he’d cried like a baby as he was taken away - I wasn’t surprised. I always knew he would react like that. It’s called justice.”

Jade, who is having counselling for her ordeal, said when they met in the summer of 2018, Hood appeared to be the ideal boyfriend.

She she added: “I found out over the summer that he had lost his job - a fact he tried to hide from me. He was also funding a cocaine and gambling addiction.

"He would start to make me feel like I was worthless regularly, accusing me of cheating on him and demanding my location always be on when we were not together.

“He was either at work (in a new job), on the drink or on his PC playing games or gambling. He broke his PC screen because he lost a bet.”

He first attacked her in September 2018, throwing her out their house in her underwear and making her sit in the cold. She said: “He was in my face screaming at me, there was an ironing board next to me and he picked it up and slammed it into the wall.

"He started screaming at me calling me stupid for crying saying, “look at the f****g state of you, you stupid c*w, you caused this”.

"I was hysterical, he grabbed me and dragged me out of the house in my bra and threw my jumper after me and slammed the door closed. He locked me out in this state.

“After this I was on eggshells. He would log into my social media on the way to work and check who I was talking to.”

Jade eventually fled to a women’s refuge. Hood beat her savagely on Christmas Eve 2019 – and the police were called, leading to his conviction.

He is due to be sentenced next month.