August 2018

Pervert ex-army officer sexually assaulted ‘vulnerable’ Perthshire teen after ‘creeping into her room’ and abusing her

A pervert ex-Army officer has been caged for three years after he sexually assaulted a “vulnerable” teenager.

Lieutenant-Colonel Tom Gallagher, 66, attacked the girl, 15, while his wife was away from home in Killin, Perthshire.

Falkirk Sheriff Court heard he crept into her bedroom and abused her over several hours.

The fiend was arrested the next day after his “distressed” victim email­ed her parents for help.

Gallagher denied the assaults in May last year but was found guilty.

Jailing him yesterday, Sheriff Craig Caldwell blasted the retired Royal Engineer for exploiting the youngster’s “trust”.

He added: “One cannot imagine the effects on this girl, this child.”

Outside court, the victim’s dad said the sentence wasn’t enough and called for Gallagher to be stripped of his military title and pension.