Creep caught with 3500 pictures of school girls

Twisted David Young was caught with over 3500 pictures of school girls he had taken “covertly” using his mobile phone. 

Young took the pictures between April 2020 and November 2022, at Costa Coffee in Clarkston and at the St Enoch’s Centre in Glasgow alongside other locations. 

The 68-year-old loitered around schools and other locations where “young children congregated” and took the images without the kids knowing. 

Young, of Lossie Wynd in Elgin, also on an occasion, pursued children in order to take their photograph. 

David Young. Picture by court reporter. (Image: David Young. Picture by court reporter.)

Procurator fiscal depute, Gemma Barclay told Paisley Sheriff Court the matter came to light in November 2022 when two Clarkston Costa Coffee workers saw Young taking photos of children.

Ms Barclay explained: “On November 14, 2022, staff saw the accused, who was a customer, sitting at a table close to the main doorway. 

“They observed him as he sat with his phone near to his crotch. 

“They were of the view he was taking pictures of children nearby who they believed were aged between four and six years old. 

“One shop worker went outside and looking through the window they could see the accused had the camera app open.

“As a result they called police.

“Officers attended and traced the accused nearby. He said he wasn’t taking photographs.

“He was searched and found to have a phone which was seized and he was taken to Govan police station.”

David Young. Picture by court reporter. (Image: David Young. Picture by court reporter.)

Court heard detectives carried out an analysis on Young’s phone which showed there were 3857 images on the phone and of those, 3568 photos were of “school aged females who didn’t appear to know they were being photographed.” 

Ms Barclay added: “Almost exclusively all were taken from behind of school aged girls.

“There were a variety of locations including streets, shops and cafes. 

“One series of photographs is taken while the accused is behind a child going up an escalator.

“This is taken at a lower angle and in an upwards fashion.

“The remaining photos are a variety from April 5 2020, to November 22, 2022.

“They show children in skirts, leggings, some with tights, some not. Some are close and some at a distance.” 

David Young. Picture by court reporter. (Image: David Young. Picture by court reporter.)

Court then heard following Young’s arrest, they searched his home where a second phone was seized - 10 photos of the same nature were recovered on that device. 

Ms Barclay added: “On occasion the accused pursued children. 

“A number of images are bursts which some demonstrate he was following children through shopping centres or streets to take the images.”

The Crown argued there was a “significant sexual element to the offence.”

Young’s defence agent told the court that despite there being over 3500 images that it was not “3500 separate incidents of pictures being taken as many of the pictures are bursts.”

Sheriff Eoin McGinty asked why Young, formally of Campbell Street in Darvel, East Ayrshire, was taking these pictures.

The defence agent told the court: “Artistic purposes, he has an interest in photography and art. 

“The picture of the girl on the escalator, he says that the shopping centre has a glass door which at the top has some ornate metal which allows light to flood in and reflect along the side of the elevator.”

Sheriff McGinty slammed: “It’s highly sinister behaviour taking photographs of children.

“You plead guilty to an offence where you loitered around schools and areas where children congregate. 

“On occasions, you pursued children. 

“I can only conclude there is an underlying sexual disorder or deviance which society needs to be protected of.”

Sentence was adjourned until next month for the preparation of background reports. 

Young’s bail was continued meantime.