A MAN was caught filming young girls from behind at Greenock's Oak Mall for perceived 'sexual gratification', the sheriff court has heard.
Stewart Stenhouse pleaded guilty to following the children around the shopping centre whilst recording them on his mobile phone.
Stenhouse, 44, was told by a sheriff that the disorderly conduct offence he had committed involved a 'significant sexual element'.
The court heard how he targeted four girls in the mall and videoed them without their knowledge or permission on June 17 last year.
However, his actions raised 'extreme alarm' and suspicion among other people in the centre, the court heard.
Prosecutor Pamela Brady told how an eyewitness saw Stenhouse following the group of ‘young girls’ at around 3.15pm.
Fiscal depute Mrs 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.
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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.
Mrss Brady explained that the footage on his phone captured between the girls’ knees and waist.
The fiscal depute added: “The Crown position is that there was a sexual element to this behaviour.”
Stenhouse’s solicitor said: “It is his position that he was unaware of the age of the females.”
Having reviewed CCTV of the incident, Sheriff James Varney said he had concluded that there was a ‘significant sexual element to this crime’.
Sentencing has been deferred to allow for the preparation of social work reports and a restriction of liberty order assessment.
Stenhouse, whose address was not given in court, will return to court for sentencing on May 29.
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