GORDON DREGHORN FROM ACCRINGTON ESCAPES PRISON AFTER UPSKIRT PICTURES IN MANCHESTER'S PICCADILLY GARDENS
In November 2018, a disturbing case unfolded involving Gordon Dreghorn, a 48-year-old man from Accrington, who was caught engaging in highly inappropriate and illegal activities in the heart of Manchester's city centre.Dreghorn was observed secretly taking upskirt photographs of young girls in Piccadilly Gardens, a popular public space known for its playgrounds and fountains, attracting families and children from across the region.
Despite the severity of his actions, Dreghorn was not sentenced to prison.
The presiding judge, Judge Martin Rudland, acknowledged Dreghorn's background, revealing that he had suffered 'horrific' and 'persistent' abuse during his own childhood.
The judge stated that this history contributed to his current behavior and emphasized that Dreghorn 'needed help' rather than incarceration.
The incident came to light after members of the public grew suspicious of Dreghorn's conduct in the area.
Some individuals noticed his unusual behavior and reported their concerns to police.
William Donnelly, prosecuting, explained that CCTV footage confirmed Dreghorn's suspicious activity.
Officers observed him walking around Piccadilly Gardens with a camera, and at one point, he was seen to conceal an object by stuffing it into his sock.
Following this, police officers approached and stopped Dreghorn for a search.
They recovered a memory card from his sock, which contained a photograph of an unidentified girl, estimated to be between nine and ten years old.
The image showed her tying her shoelace, but it was taken from an angle up her skirt, indicating an upskirt shot.
Additionally, Dreghorn's mobile phone was seized, revealing a similar photograph of a much younger girl, approximately four years old.
He was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of taking indecent images of children.
Dreghorn pleaded guilty to these charges at an earlier hearing.
It was also revealed that he had a prior conviction from 2003, which resulted in a three-year prison sentence for similar offenses involving the possession and distribution of indecent images of children.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Rudland noted that the images found on Dreghorn's devices were classified as the lowest category of seriousness.
This classification influenced the court's decision not to impose a custodial sentence this time.
The judge expressed understanding of Dreghorn's troubled past, stating, 'It’s little wonder your attitudes to women and relationships, normal sexual development, and social interaction have been contaminated.' He further commented on the nature of the offenses, emphasizing that the children involved were unaware of Dreghorn's actions and had not been harmed physically.
The images were immediately seized, and the judge highlighted the importance of Dreghorn receiving professional help to address the underlying issues stemming from his childhood abuse.
As part of his sentence, Dreghorn was given a three-year community order.
This order requires him to participate in various probation-led treatments and rehabilitation programs.
Additionally, he was placed under a sexual harm prevention order for five years, which restricts his access to children and the internet, aiming to prevent any future offenses of this nature.
