Beast who attacked girl, 11, is caged
A paedophile has been caged for sexually assaulting an 11- year- old girl in broad daylight.
Christopher Murphy, 33, targeted his victim ina Paisley street when she left a shop with her pal.
He had previously been banned from approaching children after he was locked up for stalking a sevenyear-old.
The beast was jailed for more than seven months for his latest offence at Paisley Sheriff Court.
Prosecutor Claire Rowan told how he prowled outside a Subway sandwich shop before pouncing.
She said: “They saw a male of heavy build, short, dark hair, wearing a grey hoodie and carrying a carrier bag.
“He was seen pacing backwards and forwards in front of the shop window. They saw him heading west along Glasgow Road, in the direction of Crossflat Crescent.
“The girls left the store and went left on to Clarence Street, in the direction of Ladyburn Street.
“They saw the accused walking towards them.
“He came within touching distance.
“The accused did not engage with either of the girls and walked passed them, looking them up and down.”
Murphy reached out and groped the schoolgirl as she passed in Clarence Street around 3pm on July 17.
He walked off briskly after a car parked alongside them.
The girl was left “deeply upset” and told one of the passengers in the motor what had happened.
They flagged down passing police. Officers spoke to the victim – who was “upset and shaking”.
They scoured CCTV and were able to identify the pervert.
Murphy was held on remand after he was arrested.
The court heard he is “deeply ashamed” of his actions, but could offer “no good explanation” for his conduct.
He was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years.
Sheriff Seith Ireland could have jailed him for up to 12 months. He said: “The public at large would expect this type of assault, on a girl who was just 11, to be dealt with by way of a prison sentence.
“That is due to the gravity of the offence, your record of previous convictions, and that a non-custodial disposal would not do justice in the circumstances of this case.”
Murphy was previously caged for two years for stalking a girl of seven just days before Christmas in 2016.
The victim was walking with her gran when the fiend began trailing them through Paisley town centre.
He tailed them from Gilmour Street Station, by Paisley Abbey and into Forbes Place.
He even paused when they stopped to look in a shop window.
The creep was lifted after the grandmother noticed him and grabbed a nearby cop.
Murphy attacked another girl in the street in front of her mum seven years ago.
He pinned the youngster against a wall and grabbed her.
The child’s mother charged at him and grabbed his clothing, but he wriggled free and ran, leaving his jacket at the scene.
He was jailed for 16 months and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.
He was previously given three years probation for sexually assaulting a jogger, 14, a decade ago.
He groped her when she stopped to stretch at a phone box.
His victim managed to fight him off before he legged it.
Murphy, formerly of Birkhall Avenue, Inchinnan, showed no emotion as he was led off to start his latest stint behind bars.