Perth man (41) jailed for sex assault on girl

Dec 15 2009 by Alison Lowson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A 41-YEAR-OLD Perth man who sexually abused a young girl while he worked as a gardener at a top Perthshire public school was jailed for two years yesterday.

John Gallagher, of St Catherine’s Square, also had a further eight months added to that after police found a stash of child porn on his home computer.

When he is released from these sentences, he will be kept under supervision for a further three years.

Gallagher, who also had his name added to the Sex Offenders’ Register, was told that his jail term had been cut by a third because of his early guilty pleas.

He had also avoided the necessity of the young girl, who was not a pupil at the school, potentially having to give evidence.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that Gallagher lured the youngster to his shed at Glenalmond College to give her a birthday present.

After indecently assaulting her he told her she was “his sexy wee lassie.”

Gallagher, who is unmarried and lives alone, has since been sacked from his college post.

He pled guilty to using lewd and indecent behaviour towards the girl in June. He also admitted having indecent photos of children at his former home at Chapelhill Farm Cottage, near Logiealmond, the following day.

Depute fiscal Janine Bates said the accused asked the girl’s mother if she would send the victim to his shed as he had a birthday present for her. He gave her a gift card but then indecently assaulted her.

When interviewed by police, he became distressed and admitted: “I sexually assaulted a little girl today and it’s kind of hard to accept.”

He later told officers there were images of children on his computer – and on CDs – at his home.

They included more than 100 video clips depicting the sexual abuse of children by adults, ranging from 3-5 on the Copine scale. Level 5 is the most serious.

Gallagher admitted his “sexual fantasy” was for young girls under the age of 13 and that he had used various searches on his computer to find the images.

Solicitor Billy Somerville said the accused had co-operated fully with police and in the preparation of the reports.

The prison term was backdated to October 15, when he was remanded.