A SHOPWORKER whose manager filmed her and two others in the staff toilets has spoken out as he was jailed.

James Duff, 32, was put on the sex offenders register for 10 years as he was led away from the dock in tears at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.

He pleaded guilty in December to three charges that took place at a retailer in Clydebank, which cannot be revealed to protect the identities of the victims.

Between August 19 and December 21, 2020, he took an image of a woman using the lavatory using a camera he had concealed.

On August 23, 2020, he recorded an image of another female employee.

And between December 5, 2021 and February 19, 2022, he recorded the teenager on various occasions within the staff toilet changing her top and using the lavatory. And he attempted to record her or another member of staff doing a private act.

It was only when the teen spotted the camera that the earlier victims came to light.

Since Duff admitted his crimes in December, it has taken repeated attempts to move the case forward to sentencing, with one of Duff's victims only being spoken to by the Crown for the first time earlier this month.

Sheriff William Gallacher repeatedly wanted assurances the three women had been given the opportunity to submit victim impact statements. Two did, and one of them released a statement through Digby Brown Solicitors after sentencing.

She told the Glasgow Times: “What Duff did was disgusting and it is important that he is held accountable because his actions weren’t merely opportunistic voyeurism – they were planned and predatory.

“He knew exactly what he was doing and no doubt thought he’d get away with it.

“I also hope the lessons learned from this case can help workplaces everywhere take steps to protect women from further incidents because feeling used and targeted in this way can have a harmful and lasting psychological impact.”

At the hearing on March 15, Sheriff Gallacher called the two victim impact statements "eloquent". Defence solicitor Stephen McGuire replied that his client understood the impact of his crimes, recognising it was a course of conduct, not just a single event.

Mr McGuire said the interests of Duff - of Greenlaw Road, Yoker - had to be weighed against those of the public.

He said: "I accept the custodial threshold is overwhelmingly passed in this case."

Noting his client was a first offender, he said Duff had given social workers an "explanation of sorts" for his behaviour, though it was "not good or acceptable".

"As serious as the offending is, there are alternatives to a custodial sentence," he added.

But Sheriff Gallacher noted the "planning of [the crimes], the persistence of it, and the extraordinary breach of trust".

Even when he knew his actions were wrong, the man continued with his crimes, he said.

The sheriff told Duff: "I take account of the fact you appear without any past criminal history, and you are remorseful.

"But I take account that this behaviour you engaged with deliberately and with planning over months and years."

He said the man had used his control and authority and abused the trust of his position repeatedly.

"I'm entirely satisfied that custody is the only option," he said. "You did it for your own selfish purposes."

He imposed a 50-month sentence, with the first 20 being in jail and a 30-month extended sentence where he will be on licence while in the community.

He was put on the sex offenders register for 10 years.