A TOURIST caught filming a small child told a court he meant no “harm”.
An angry dad confronted Janpreet Singh after spotting him making a video of a kid playing in woodland.
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An angry dad confronted Janpreet Singh in Barshaw Park, PaisleyCredit: Les Gallagher
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Singh, 29, was filmed taking footage of the child and shared on social mediaCredit: Alan MacGregor Ewing
He then filmed Singh, 29, taking footage of the child in Barshaw Park, Paisley, and later shared the clip on social media in a bid to identify him.
It emerged Singh, from India, was visiting his sister here — and she went to cops after spotting the video online.
Prosecutor Karen Yule told the town’s sheriff court: “The accused’s sister advised police he had been making videos to show family back home.
“He did not know he’d done anything wrong.”
Cops arrested Singh and found the video on his mobile plus two others of swans and park scenes.
He admitted filming the child on March 30.
His lawyer Mark Johnson told the court: “He’s here on holiday.
“There was a certain level of naivety involved.
“He did not see the harm in it.”
Sheriff Sukhwinder Gill was undecided on whether Singh’s actions were “innocent” or “nefarious”, saying: “It’s not unusual for people from certain cultures to take videos of swans and children and not realise it is a criminal offence here.”
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“She deferred sentence for reports.
We told previously how Police Scotland issues a warning amid reports of men filming kids in Scots playparks.
The force said it was “aware” of mounting concerns being shared on social media regarding filming in playparks.
Police Scotland says it takes these reports “seriously” and will continue to investigate any other matters reported.