Pervert who filmed girl, 5, 'did same thing every week'

Alan Forrest admitted following the girl and videoing her as she walked around Asda at The Jewel after she finished her first day of school.

The 36-year-old was spotted holding his phone at waist height as he stalked the pair and was reported to security.

Police were contacted and CCTV footage was examined which showed Forrest filming the child on his mobile on August 19 last year.

Yesterday, at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Forrest, of Bingham Crossway, admitted conducting himself in a disorderly manner, following and videoing the girl, and committing a breach of the peace.

The court heard that he was asked if he got gratification and Forrest replied "maybe just because of the uniform". Fiscal depute Malcolm Stewart added that Forrest was also asked how often he did this and he said probably about once a week.

He said: "When asked why he filmed a five-year-old girl he said 'I don't know, I just do stupid things, maybe fantasy or something, obviously I'd never harm anyone'."

Police examined his phone but the images had been deleted after he was thrown out of the store by security.

The girl's father told the Evening News previously of his horror when he realised Forrest was filming his daughter.

He said: "We went into Asda and there was a guy who was always standing just that bit too close to us and I began to notice him following us around.

"I was thinking 'this is a bit suspicious', but you think you are being paranoid. Then, after a while my daughter started watching something on the big screens and I walked up beside him to see what he was doing. He had his camera on and it was pointing at her.

"I couldn't believe how blas he was being. He seemed totally oblivious (when I approached him], he just continued filming."

The girl was wearing her school uniform out for the first time and her father said that he is now more wary of her being out in public. "It's made me feel differently," he said. "I am very protective of my daughter and now I feel I cannot let her out of my sight."

Sheriff Wendy Sheehan deferred sentence until next month for background reports. She ordered that Forrest be put on the sex offenders register and continued his bail.