AN IRVINE creep "followed, photographed and filmed" teenage girls in a range of busy town centre areas.
James Balment has been added to the sex offenders register after a sheriff stated there was a "significant sexual element" to his offending.
The 68-year-old was sentenced at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court having previously pleaded guilty to three charges in connection with matters.
He admitted three offences relating to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
On two occasions, he did so by following a 17-year-old girl, and another unknown female, and taking photographs and/or videos of them.
One incident took place on January 12, 2024, at the Rivergate Shopping Centre while the other was on February 22 last year at Bridgegate.
A third incident saw Balment following a 14-year-old girl who he photographed and videoed in High Street on August 28, 2025.
Defending, solicitor Peter Murray explained that sentencing was previously deferred to allow for background reports to be prepared.
He highlighted that Balment was a first offender and had no other matters outstanding.
"It begs the question why he go involved in such serious offending," the lawyer added.
Mr Murray said it was a "fairly significant change in his life" which led to the Irvine pensioner, of Titchfield Way, becoming involved in this conduct.
He added: "The stress and pressure of that situation is only explanation that can be given to this very bizarre course of conduct.
"His motivation is not really clear. It is not of a sexual nature is his position. He felt it was a victimless crime, if no one was hurt or knew then no one was harmed.
"He is upset at the distress caused to others - the victims and their families."
Mr Murray asked that Sheriff Morag Fraser consider this, as well as the pensioner's lack of previous offending, when passing sentence.
She agreed that there were mitigated factors though said she found there was a “significant sexual element” involved.
She said: “This is a difficult matter in terms of appropriate sentence. It is a serious crime, there are some concerns that you did not quite realise that.
“However, there are clearly very significant personal circumstances that I have to take into account.”
Sheriff Fraser placed Belmont on a community payback order which will see him placed under social work supervision for the next year.
He was also made subject to a restriction of liberty order which will require him to remain within his home address between 7pm-7am each day for the coming four months.
The pensioner was also placed on the sex offenders register for five years.
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