Unpaid work for offender who secretly filmed girls and women

A 46-year-old, who secretly filmed young children at a Fife supermarket for more than a year, has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Neil Ross focused the camera of his phone on the “bottoms and legs” of females including youngsters at a Tesco store in Dunfermline.

For more than a year, shoppers were secretly videoed as they walked around the store unaware of Ross’ actions.

When his phone was seized during a police raid on his home, indecent images and videos of children as young as five were found.

Ross, formerly of Humbie Terrace, Aberdour, now of Ogilvie Place, Tayport, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He had previously admitted breaching the peace at Tesco in Duloch, on occasions between May 19, 2017 and July 4, 2018.

Ross also admitted, between April 10 and August 1, 2018 at his home, downloading indecent images of children.

Depute fiscal Kavin RyanHume told the court there were other family members present when the raid took place.

Ross told officers: “I’ll save you a lot of time. It’s me you’re looking for.”

The depute said the supermarket videos focused on his victims’ bottoms and legs and were taken without their knowledge.

Defence solicitor Fraser Napier said: “He has lost his family, doesn’t see his six children and also lost his job because of this.”

Sheriff Charles MacNair imposed a community payback order with three years’ supervision and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Ross has also been put on the sex offenders register.