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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Connor Gordon

Glasgow Asda boss sexually assaulted 12-year-old at Forge shopping centre

An Asda boss has been convicted of sexually abusing two girls.

George Gallagher, 30, groped a 12-year-old girl at the supermarket in Glasgow's Forge shopping centre on April 19, 2021.

He earlier attacked another girl aged between 11 and 13 at various locations in Glasgow, as well as a caravan park in Strathaven, South Lanarkshire between February 2017 and 2019.

READ MORE: Renfrew witness appeal after car deliberately torched in late-night attack outside house

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 abused the other girl.

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 you 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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