A serial sex offender whose weird behaviour terrified staff at an Angus betting shop has been jailed.
Gavin Ross caused alarm when he stared into the Coral bookies in Forfar while rubbing his nipples.
The convicted sex pest’s disturbing routine carried on for a fortnight, Perth Sheriff Court heard.
One member of staff became so frightened, she had to be relocated to another store.
Ross, 41, was convicted following a trial in July.
He returned to the dock for sentencing on Thursday.
Sheriff William Wood told him: “I heard the complainer in this case give very compelling and distressing evidence about how badly she had been affected by your behaviour.
“It’s not, on the face of it, at the highest end of this type of offence, but was clearly very upsetting for her.”
Ross, who was once jailed for dancing at the side of the A90 with his trousers round his ankles, was sentenced to 22 months.
‘Very stressful time’ for staff
The Perth Prison inmate, formerly of Inveraldie, Tealing, Angus, repeatedly visited at the Castle Street shop, loitered outside and refused to leave despite being asked to do so on numerous occasions.
Whilst outside, he stared into the premises, waved, made inappropriate gestures to the employees and played his nipples.
The charge states he rubbed and seized his nipples above his clothing and rubbed his chest.
A jury found him guilty of acting in a threatening or abusive manner between September 6 and 24, last year.
One female employee who was stared down by the accused said she felt “uncomfortable” and “uneasy” and said “I began to feel on edge,” and “it was a very stressful time”.
A second complainer told the court said she was disgusted and found his behaviour intimidating.
She said she did not want to work alone in the shop.
Ross made a habit of attending when the women were working alone and one woman moved to another branch to escape him.
Neither of the employees knew Ross and both had first spotted him picking up cigarette butts outside the store.
They became so alarmed by his behaviour, they raised the issue with their manager, the court heard.
Earlier this year, Ross was jailed after he exposed himself to a female prison warden at HMP Perth.
