Pervert tried to film woman in cubicle at Asda in Clydebank

Leo Findlay aimed his mobile phone towards the woman as she undressed in the cubicle at the town’s Asda store.

But despite being slammed by a sheriff for his “utterly unacceptable” behaviour, the 33-year-old was given a community-based sentence instead of being sent to jail.

Findlay, of Jedworth Avenue, Drumchapel, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to a charge stating that he “did operate equipment with the intention of enabling yourself or another to observe” the woman, “in that you did place your mobile phone over the top of a changing cubicle and direct the camera towards her whilst she was removing her clothing, placing her in a state of fear and alarm”.

The incident happened at the Britannia Way store on August 10; three days later, Findlay pleaded guilty to a single charge of voyeurism when he appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.

A background report was ordered from social workers ahead of Findlay’s sentencing hearing, held at the same court on Friday.

Stephen McGuire, defending, said: “He tells me he would welcome support. I invite your Lordship to take the view that a community payback order with supervision, a programme requirement and unpaid work might be an appropriate way of dealing with this.

“He recognises the baffling background to this incident, and has deep-rooted and genuine regret in relation to the way he behaved on this occasion.”

Sheriff William Gallacher said he was unsure whether to instruct Findlay to pay compensation to his victim, because he was uncertain whether his money would be welcomed.

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Mr McGuire said Findlay’s ability to pay a financial penalty was likely to be difficult as he was expecting to soon be fired from his job.

Findlay was placed under social workers’ supervision for two and a half years, told to do 100 hours of unpaid work within four months, and was also put on the sex offenders’ register for five years.