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A CREEP who filmed young girls from behind without their knowledge or permission at Greenock's Oak Mall was yesterday spared a jail sentence for the 'extremely disturbing' crime.
Stewart Stenhouse - now on the Sex Offenders Register - was snared in the shopping centre after a shocked witness watched him follow a group of children and record them on his mobile phone.
The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to the breach of the peace offence prior to being sentenced at Greenock Sheriff Court.
A sheriff declared that the 'extremely disturbing' video Stenhouse had captured had a 'significant sexual element' to it.
Sheriff James Varney told Stenhouse yesterday: "I reviewed the footage in this case, which was extremely disturbing."
However, a community payback order was imposed as a direct alternative to a custodial term.
Lawyer Ellen Macdonald told the sentencing hearing: "He appears to have insight into this offending and into the fact that it would have had an impact on the girls that were involved."
The court previously heard how Stenhouse targeted four young females in the mall and videoed them without their knowledge or permission on June 17 last year.
A prosecutor said his actions raised 'extreme alarm' and suspicion among other people in the centre and an eyewitness saw Stenhouse following the group of ‘young girls’ at around 3.15pm.
Procurator fiscal depute Pamela Brady said: “The accused was walking behind them and was videoing the girls on his phone.
“He had followed them for several metres with his phone at stomach level.
“The witness was extremely alarmed by what he saw and notified security staff.
“He was immediately of the opinion that the accused was videoing the young girls for sexual gratification.”
Following intervention from the witness, Stenhouse attempted to ‘run away’, the court was told.
He eventually admitted his actions to security staff, who then contacted police.
Stenhouse was later arrested by officers who had reviewed CCTV footage from inside the centre.
He replied ‘no comment’ after being charged.
Prosecutor Mrs Brady explained that the footage on his phone captured between the girls’ knees and waists.
The fiscal depute added: “The Crown position is that there was a sexual element to this behaviour.”
He eventually admitted his actions to security staff, who then contacted police.
Stenhouse was later arrested by officers who had reviewed CCTV footage from inside the centre.
He replied ‘no comment’ after being charged.
Prosecutor Mrs Brady explained that the footage on his phone captured between the girls’ knees and waists.
The fiscal depute added: “The Crown position is that there was a sexual element to this behaviour.”