Drugged sexual predator who preyed on schoolgirl in West Lothian supermarket jailed

A child molester who targeted a schoolgirl in the aisles of his local Tesco store has been jailed for 2 years and nine months.

Michael Glavin - who has a ‘deep-rooted attraction to children’ - admitted groping a seven-year-old as she played in the toy section in the Bathgate supermarket in August.

The “distressed” youngster ran back to her mum who was nearby and told her: “I’m scared because a man was following me. He tried to go down my skirt.”

Shortly afterwards Glavin approached two 12-year-olds in the same store.

Michael Glavin was convicted of the offences which took place at the Tesco superstore in Bathgate.

After Glavin’s victims pointed him out to store management, staff found him in the ladies clothing section holding a nightie and performing a sex act.

They ejected him from the store and detained him until police arrived to arrest him, Livingston Sheriff Court heard.

Andy Aitken, defending, said Glavin - who had taken drugs he had bought online - accepted that his actions must have caused “significant distress and upset”.

He added: “This disinhibited him and raised his libido. The author of the psychiatric report says this allowed a deep rooted attraction to children to assert itself.”

Former NHS and MoD employee

Glavin, an IT expert who once held public sector jobs with the National Health Service and the Ministry of Defence, showed no emotion as he was jailed.

The 47-year-old was told he would remain subject to close supervision by social workers for three years under the extended sentence following his eventual release from prison.

He was warned that if he breaches any of the strict conditions after completing the two years and nine months custodial part he will be recalled to jail to complete the rest of his sentence and could face further action.

His name will also remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.

Jailing Glavin, Sheriff Kenneth McIver said locking him up was “absolutely essential” and added: “You were looking for children who were complete strangers to you for the purpose of committing these crimes against them.

“It’s fortunate the children had the presence of mind to get away from you as they did and to run to their parents and report you.”Shortly afterwards Glavin approached two 12-year-olds in the same store.