Doctor who secretly filmed schoolgirls in Fife Starbucks struck from register

A doctor who was caught secretly filming young girls in a Starbucks in Fife has been struck from the register.

William Gunn was convicted in June 2024 of breach of the peace after conducting himself “in a disorderly manner by covertly and inappropriately taking photographs and videos.”

Gunn was fined £700 for the offence the following month at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.

At the time of the offence, Gunn worked as a locum consultant psychiatrist within NHS Fife.

In January 2024, police were called to a branch of Starbucks at Fife Central Retail Park following reports three 15-year-old girls in school uniform had been covertly filmed and photographed by Gunn.

A second group of teens in the coffee shop witnessed Gunn using his phone camera to zoom in on the schoolgirls’ feet and legs. One teenager captured a video on her phone of Gunn’s mobile phone screen while he was filming.

Starbucks staff were notified, and the police were called.

Following the incident, Gunn asked to be voluntarily struck from the General Teaching Council (GMC) register.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) heard Gunn claimed the offending was the result of an “out of body experience” and he had been working in a difficult and pressurised environment at the time of the offence.

The GMC said that while Gunn had expressed “remorse and shame, he had been unable to explain why the conduct occurred and continued to deny any sexual motivation”.

Upon the balance of probabilities, the General Medical Council found there was a sexual component or motivation to Gunn’s actions.

Gunn’s fitness to practice was found to be impaired, and he was struck from the register.