A person who lurked within the altering rooms as kids acquired prepared for a swimming pool disco has been suspended by his college.
Peter Ridges was caught on CCTV popping out and in of adjusting cubicles and following kids round Perth Leisure Pool.
Workers on the centre had been suspicious of his motivation to pay to enter the pool on a Saturday night when the swim disco - geared toward younger kids - was on.
Ridges admitted following kids round altering rooms at Perth Leisure Pool and listening to them whereas they stripped and turned into swimming costumes.
He had initially denied any offence however modified his plea to confess amended prices through the trial after CCTV proof was proven of him lurking within the altering room.
Ridges was proven watching younger ladies getting into altering cubicles earlier than wandering into the neighbouring cubicle himself. He was solely sporting swim shorts as he repeatedly walked across the altering rooms.
The CCTV confirmed him furtively taking a look at teams of kids - aged from 8 to 14 - earlier than deciding which cubicle he ought to enter subsequent.
When the kids completed altering and exited the cubicle, Ridges is seen to exit the adjoining cubicle shortly after - sporting precisely the identical as he did when he entered.
Pool workers informed the trial that they thought it extremely uncommon that any grownup on their very own would need to attend the Saturday evening occasion which is staged for younger kids.
Police had been referred to as in when Ridges, from Edinburgh, turned up once more to the children' disco on the corresponding weekend precisely a 12 months later and was recognised by workers.
Reception employee Fiona Pallister, 44, mentioned: "It is the children' disco on a Saturday evening. It is full of kids with loud music. Not many individuals are available in on their very own. One man got here in.
"He mentioned he was assembly any person down within the leisure pool, so he needed to go down there. He simply requested for a swim. I simply thought it was very odd.
"It wasn't sitting proper with me. My colleague got here to see the place he was a number of instances that evening and he was by no means really within the swimming pool.
"He was simply within the altering rooms the entire time and around the bathrooms. He got here up the steps with out his footwear on. He put his footwear on and left."
She mentioned Ridges first go to was on February 9, 2019 and he returned on February 8, 2020 and paid to attend the swim disco on his personal once more.
"It was a 12 months to the day and I used to be on once more. He by no means went downstairs. He was simply trying over into the leisure pool. The obligation supervisor mentioned to telephone the police."
The courtroom was informed that Ridges disappeared into a rest room when police arrived and after "round 10 minutes" officers went in to inform him to come back out.
Obligation supervisor Susan Chmiel informed the courtroom: "We contacted the police a few gentleman who was on the pool performing suspiciously.
"We believed he was trying predominantly at ladies within the altering rooms. He was sporting just about precisely the identical as he was the earlier 12 months."
Ridges, 59, from Willow Tree Place, denied recording "by unknown means" whereas following kids across the altering space.
He denied conducting himself in a disorderly method and breaching the peace by 'loitering' within the altering space at Perth Leisure Pool on February 9, 2019. He denied watching and following kids after which watching them enter cubicles earlier than getting into an adjoining cubicle himself. He denied leaving cubicles after the kids exit.
Ridges additionally denied breaching the peace on February 8, 2020 by 'loitering within the altering room for a time period and repeatedly recording by means unknown'.
Solicitor Gary McAteer mentioned his shopper had modified his plea "on the idea that prices comprise no vital sexual component."
Mr McAteer mentioned that Ridges could also be on the autistic spectrum and accepted that his behaviour was "odd and eccentric."
"He has no felony file," the lawyer mentioned. "His intention presently was to easily warmth up after a day strolling within the hills."
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