THE former director of the Enchanted Forest lightshow and Pitlochry Festival Theatre secretly filmed women because he wanted ideas for his secret hobby as a cross-dresser.
Derek Allan, 59, covertly recorded one woman while she was dressed as Hollywood star Audrey Hepburn because he wanted to copy her appearance.
Allan, who had been dressing up as a woman in private for decades, was dismissed after he was caught using his phone to spy on the women.
Allan yesterday admitted at Perth Sheriff Court to breaching the peace at Pitlochry Festival Theatre between March 11 and October 31 2014 by covertly filming two women.
Allan, of, Glebe Street, Dumfries, who now operates a consultancy business, had sentence deferred for reports by Sheriff Lindsay Foulis until next month.
Solicitor-advocate Andrew Houston, defending, said: “The position is rather more nuanced than was perhaps perceived at first blush. His behaviour is inextricably linked to gender identity issues of which he has been aware for several decades.
“Part of his exploration of gender identity issues has involved in him engaging in what is known in common parlance as cross-dressing. That is an activity in which he has engaged for a number of years.
“In essence, by photographing or filming he was capturing images of particular ‘looks’ or styles that he was interested in emulating.
“On 31 October 2014 the lady was dressed in the manner of Audrey Hepburn as she appeared in Breakfast At Tiffany’s. That is very much an iconic look.
“This whole episode has caused tremendous angst to his family but has been the catalyst for the unburdening of this aspect of his life and character. It had been hidden until the summer of last year. He has now engaged with LGBT Health and Well-Being.”
Mr Houston asked the court not to place Allan on the Sex Offenders Register as the offence “did not contain a significant sexual element” and that issue was continued for consideration by the sheriff.
Fiscal depute Tina Dickie told the court: “The accused was employed at Pitlochry Festival Theatre since 2004 and was in a senior management position.
“A meeting took place within the theatre and as a result of incidents at the meeting the accused’s employment was terminated.
“At the time the two ladies were in fancy dress because it was Halloween. One became aware of the accused acting suspiciously and alerted the other.
“When she looked across at Mr Allan she could see he was holding a phone at his chest.
“It was pointing directly at her waist and legs.
“She was dressed as Audrey Hepburn, wearing a fitted knee length dress and with bare legs. She was extremely distressed as she could see clearly the accused was filming her and attempting to be secretive about it.”
Both women then reported further similar incidents when Allan had been filming them while pretending to send texts.
The court was told Allan, a former commercial director at Pitlochry Theatre and creative director of the award-winning Enchanted Forest, had filmed the women on at least four occasions. He made no comment to police when he was eventually arrested.
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