Lyndsey Crawford and her partner James Montgomery were enjoying a trip to Barshaw Park on Sunday with their nine-year-old son Rory, when they were alerted by a friend to two men allegedly recording kids.
News Eve Beattie and Ryan Fahey News Reporter 20:59, 31 Mar 2025Updated 11:01, 01 Apr 2025
Police are hunting two men who were caught taking pictures of children on Mother's Day. Lyndsey Crawford and her partner James Montgomery were enjoying the special day with their nine-year-old son Rory at a park in Paisley, near Glasgow on Sunday, when a friend raised the alarm about kids being recorded.
Lyndsey said she saw the suspects filming a young boy. When the pair were confronted, they claimed it was for social media.
She said: “There was a wooden beam in front of them, and a wee boy, about four years old, was bending over it, laughing and playing. We stood back and observed, and we could see clearly that one of the men was holding his phone down slyly, taking pictures and recording the boy.
“When we confronted them, they said they would delete the footage. But when we pressed further, they claimed they were uploading it to TikTok.”
Lyndsey was left with "chills" after further suspicions were raised about other men in the park who didn't have children with them, the Daily Record reports. She added: “I felt so uncomfortable. We started to feel awful that we hadn’t done more.” The family went straight to the police station with their son to report the incident.
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Lyndsey said: “The police were brilliant and took it really seriously. My friend told me officers arrived at the park just a few minutes later. It was surreal, haunting even. I believe it’s part of a bigger thing. The fact they were filming kids is bad enough, but my gut tells me something else was going on. It felt like I was in a TV drama – it didn’t feel real.
“I barely slept a wink last night. I kept thinking we should have done something more. We’re really freaked out – my wee boy usually takes his bike to school, but this morning, I had to take him myself because we just don’t feel safe.” A lovely, sunny afternoon turned dark very quickly. It was terrifying.”
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "Officers are appealing for information after two men were seen acting suspiciously in a playpark in Paisley.
"Around 4.45pm on Sunday, 30 March, 2025 we received a report of two suspicious men in Barshaw Park, Glasgow Road, Paisley.
"The first man is described as Asian, mid-30s, slim build with a long black beard. He was wearing a black turban, cream jumper, black body warmer and had a yellow rucksack.
"The second man is Asian, slim build with a short dark beard and in his mid-20s. He was wearing a baseball cap, black jumper with white writing on the sleeves and black trousers.
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"Detective Inspector David Hardie said: "We are looking to speak to anyone that may know these men and can help to identify them. Enquiries are ongoing and additional patrols will be in the area. If you have private CCTV of the area near the park, check and see if you captured the men described."
Anyone with information should contact 101 quoting reference 2197 of 30 March.
