A film-maker who preyed on children at Leuchars air show was yesterday handed a 10-year Sexual Offences Protection Order (SOPO) banning him from making videos featuring youngsters.
Dundee man Neil Goodwill was found guilty of committing a breach of the peace at the air base on September 10 by following and staring at children while touching his private parts over his clothing, at Cupar Sheriff Court on Thursday.
The 64-year-old sex offender was described in court as a ”video-grapher” who makes wedding videos and documentaries.
As well as being banned from shooting films featuring children, he has also been prohibited from entering schools or visiting large scale public events where under-16s are likely to be in attendance.
Sheriff Charles Macnair said he had little option but to make a lengthy and comprehensive SOPO ”to protect the public from harm” after learning Goodwill, of Westfield Lane, has an analogous previous conviction. Meanwhile, he has been assessed as posing a ”high risk” of re-offending.
After initially denying the offence in court, solicitor Cheryl Wallace said Goodwill had later told social workers the offence was committed ”with sexual intent”.
”This is his second conviction…and he has been assessed as being at a high risk of further sexual offending,” the defence agent said.
”There are underlying issues here and social workers have indicated that he would be suitable for a community payback order. There may be conditions that could be attached to such an order that would address the problematic issues.”
Mrs Wallace said Goodwill had ”not tried to minimise” his behaviour at the air show.
”His problems have escalated and he realises it is something that has to be addressed,” she continued. ”He is genuinely distressed and wants to tackle the issues.”
Mrs Wallace conceded that the nature of Goodwill’s employment ”poses a problem”.
”He is currently a videographer and carries out projects including wedding videos,” she explained.
Depute fiscal Nicola Henderson pointed out police officials had ”indicated concern” about any intention by Goodwill to record weddings.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Charles Macnair said the offences merited a jail term but that a 10-year SOPO, along with a community payback order with ”strings attached”, would protect the public more than a relatively short spell behind bars.
”I would be concerned if he was shooting wedding videos,” he commented. ”The risk of his offending seems to me to be increasing and I have to consider future risks.
”I want to prevent him going to events such as the air show or other places where there would be an obvious danger of coming into contact with children.”
The sheriff said: ”This is not the first time you have committed an offence of this nature. You seem to have a long-running problem.”
Goodwill was handed a three-year community payback order with conditions that he attend the Tay Project for sex offenders. He must also do 300 hours of community service.