GARY MCGORM FROM DUMBARTON ESCAPES JAIL AFTER YEARS OF FILMING SCHOOLGIRLS IN GLASGOW AND BEYOND

In August 2020, a disturbing case emerged involving Gary McGorm, a 52-year-old aeronautical engineer from Dumbarton, who engaged in a prolonged and sinister pattern of secretly filming young schoolgirls over a span of nearly nine years. The details of his crimes were revealed during a court hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court, where he faced multiple charges related to his covert activities.

It was disclosed that McGorm had used a small, hidden camera concealed within a bag to record a total of 51 videos featuring young girls. These recordings captured innocent schoolgirls in various public settings, including restaurants, on public transportation, and as they walked along busy streets. Importantly, none of the victims were aware that they were being filmed, highlighting the invasive and predatory nature of his actions.

Police investigations uncovered a disturbing diary kept by McGorm, which detailed his illicit activities. The diary, which bore what appeared to be a school motto on its cover, included accounts of similar incidents involving schoolgirls at notable locations such as Glasgow Central Station, on a train heading to Edinburgh, and at a Subway restaurant. The diary also suggested that McGorm harbored a foot or sock fetish, adding another layer of depravity to his crimes.

Further evidence was found at his home in Dumbarton, where authorities discovered a mannequin dressed as a schoolgirl, complete with a white shirt, grey skirt, and various socks or tights. The police also recovered a digital camera containing 11 images of the mannequin, reinforcing the disturbing nature of his obsession.

McGorm initially pleaded guilty to charges including breach of the peace and acting in a threatening manner, with the timeline of his offenses spanning from June 2011 to February of the current year. His arrest was triggered by staff at a Taco Bell restaurant on Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street, who became suspicious of his behavior. They noticed a bag with a square cut-out acting as a camera lens, which was tracking two girls sitting nearby. When McGorm followed the girls outside, staff promptly alerted the police.

Officers observed that the bag contained a silver camera inside an open shoebox, which was responsible for the 51 videos of schoolgirls filmed covertly in public spaces. The police also found the mannequin and additional images at his residence, further implicating him in the disturbing series of crimes.

During sentencing, Sheriff Reid emphasized that the community service order—comprising 300 hours of unpaid work—was a suitable alternative to imprisonment, considering McGorm had already spent the equivalent of a 12-month remand period in custody. The sheriff also ordered McGorm to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for three years, marking a significant step in addressing his dangerous behavior and protecting the community from further harm.