A paedophile who secretly filmed his neighbour's teenage daughter naked has been unmasked as an SFA referee. Ian Hart pleaded guilty to taking or permitting to be taken indecent images of children at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Monday, October 26. The 37-year-old is due to return to the same court on Friday to be sentenced.
Referee career and offences
Hart was a referee who officiated at professional football matches across Scotland and ran the line in a string of Scottish Championship fixtures involving some of the country's best-known clubs. He acted as an assistant referee in games featuring Partick Thistle, Dundee, Dundee United, Ayr United and Dunfermline Athletic, among others.
Between December 2024 and June 2025, Hart preyed on the youngster, who was aged between 13 and 14, at a property in South Lanarkshire. The court heard how a female witness, who previously caught Hart with photos of unidentified women's buttocks, including one of a nursery staff member, spotted him looking in a teenage girl's wardrobe while viewing a house in 2025.
Investigation and charges
Police checked his phone in June of that year and discovered images of his neighbour's daughter naked as she changed in her bedroom. The youngster had no knowledge of Hart taking the photos, according to the court. Hart was arrested by police in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, at his work.
Following the seizure of multiple electronic devices in a search of his home, investigators uncovered nine still and moving images of the neighbour's child. Images of the female witness in the shower, which she was unaware had been taken, and another sexual image involving the same woman were also recovered. A further 65 "voyeuristic" images of fully clothed women from behind were discovered.
SFA response
Hart, from Glasgow, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner. He also admitted two charges of voyeurism, as well as taking or permitting to be taken indecent images of children. He has been placed on the sex offenders register and is due to be sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Friday, November 6.
Hart was a Category 3 referee, meaning he was restricted to assistant refereeing duties in the Scottish Championship and leagues below. His permitted appointments also included refereeing certain rounds of the Scottish Cup, SWPL 1 and 2, the SWFL Championship and SPFL Development Leagues.
The SFA confirmed that Hart was removed from his active refereeing duties with his relevant association after they were made aware of the allegations on October 24 of this year. He will continue to be de-listed and won't be eligible to referee in the future.
A Scottish FA spokesperson said: "In consultation with the relevant Referee Association, we can confirm the match official was removed from the list of active referees as soon as we became aware of the allegations. Now he has been convicted we can confirm he will remain de-listed and not be eligible to referee in line with our zero tolerance policy."
