Asda worker sexually assaulted 12-year-old as she looked at jewellery

An Asda worker has been convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl as she looked at jewellery in a supermarket.

George Gallagher groped a 12-year-old girl at the supermarket in Glasgow’s Forge shopping centre on April 19, 2021.

The 30-year-old earlier attacked another girl aged between 11 and 13 at various locations in Glasgow including his home in the city’s Dennistoun as well as a caravan park in Strathaven, South Lanarkshire between February 2017 and 2019.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that the first girl wandered from her mum to look at jewellery in the women’s department when Gallagher struck.

Prosecutor Jessica McGowan heard Gallagher – who was applying to join the police – spent minutes claiming to look for a colleague and clothing.

Gallagher groped the girl as she walked past him.

The court was also told that while on a visit to the caravan park, Gallagher sexually assaulted the second girl.

She claimed that she got extremely upset at the thought of being alone with Gallagher.

It was stated that Gallagher would wait to get the girl alone before assaulting her.

Gallagher was convicted of two charges of sexual assault and a separate charge of engaging in a sex act with someone underage.

Sheriff Iain Fleming told Gallagher that he preferred the victims’ evidence to his.

The sheriff added: “I regard that the touching was sexual in intention by you.

“The [12-year-old] girl said that ‘he rubbed his arm against me and it was a really hard touch’.

“You had ample room to avoid her but you chose to walk close to her.

“You had no business being in that area of the store.

“You had no reason to be in the women’s department when your area is fruit and veg – you should not have been there.

“I’m satisfied beyond reasonable doubt of your guilt.”

Members of the public gallery clapped after the verdict was read and Gallagher was put on the sex offenders register.

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month.

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