A man who took pictures up women's skirts in an Irvine supermarket with a hidden camera has avoided prison.
James Jardine, 43, used a tiny digital camera disguised as a key fob to photograph his victims at an Asda store.
He was arrested after security staff saw him repeatedly squatting in aisles beside female customers.
Jardine was given two years probation and put on the Sex Offenders Register after admitting placing others in fear and alarm and breach of the peace at the ASDA shop in Ayrshire in July.
Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard that Jardine was seen walking around the store and stopping close to female customers, particularly female customers wearing skirts.
He was seen kneeling down beside them holding what appeared to be car keys in his hand. It later came to light it was a small digital camera.
He would hold the camera under the skirts of the women and take or attempt to take photographs.
He was seen doing this several times until he was approached by two security officers.
Police seized the camera and arrested father-of-five Jardine, who told officers: "I'll never do it again."
The court was told that none of Jardine's victims were identified and they were never uploaded the images to his laptop.
Jardine's lawyer said that he accepted that there was a 'significant sexual element' in the offence, and said that he acknowledged that his client's behaviour was odd for a married man with five children, but that his wife was being supportive. he said his client accepted that his behaviour was serious and stupid.
Sheriff Seith Ireland said: "There is a significant sexual element where someone seeks to obtain photographic images under ladies' skirts."
He gave Jardine probation and placed him on the Sex Offenders Register for two years.
