An utterly depraved predator who installed a secret bathroom camera to spy on young girls in Shetland has been jailed for almost three years.<\/p>\n
John Rankins voyeurism went undiscovered for close to a decade until he was caught with thousands of indecent images of children during a police raid last year.<\/p>\n
After confiscating two desktop computers and a mobile phone from his house, officers found he had saved more than 12,600 still images and almost 1,700 videos.<\/p>\n
All of the images featured boys and girls from toddler age up to 16 with creation dates between March 2011 and November 2019.<\/p>\n
More than 900 of the images and videos were classed as category A the most serious while 856 were category B and 12,588 category C.<\/p>\n
Rankin, 48, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday for sentencing, having previously admitted to creating and storing the photographs and videos.<\/p>\n
The court heard that, while searching his devices, detectives found pictures showing him setting up a secret camera, and several clips where he had used the clandestine equipment to video girls as young as 12 using the toilet.<\/p>\n
Additionally, officers discovered a recording of a woman getting dressed in a shop changing room in Lerwick.<\/p>\n
Investigators said Rankins victims were clearly unsuspecting, and their families had been completely unaware of the secret recordings until they were asked to identify the people seen in the videos.<\/p>\n
Rankins solicitor Thomas Allan said his client has been receiving support from family, friends and charity Stop It Now, and plans to make a fresh start somewhere other than Shetland in the future.<\/p>\n
He added: He was dealing with a great deal of stress due to his employment and difficulties with his relationship.<\/p>\n
Its his position there were periods where he would not access the images or look at them.<\/p>\n
He realises these are not victimless crimes.<\/p>\n
Hes tried to face up to what hes done already without any compulsion from the court.<\/p>\n
Sheriff William Summers branded Rankins actions as utterly depraved.<\/p>\n
He said: The charges to which youve pled guilty relate to a deplorable course of conduct, at times carrying on over a number of months or years.<\/p>\n
These amount to a gross breach of trust and are likely to have far-reaching consequences for the woman and children.<\/p>\n
Rankin, whose address was listed in court papers as Cogan Place, Barrhead, was jailed for 32 months and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.<\/p>\n
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Read more here:<\/p>\n
Shetland man jailed for 'depraved' spying on young girls with secret bathroom camera - Press and Journal<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An utterly depraved predator who installed a secret bathroom camera to spy on young girls in Shetland has been jailed for almost three years. John Rankins voyeurism went undiscovered for close to a decade until he was caught with thousands of indecent images of children during a police raid last year. After confiscating two desktop computers and a mobile phone from his house, officers found he had saved more than 12,600 still images and almost 1,700 videos. Continue reading