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Original poster

Voyeur filmed women in changing rooms - suspended sentence

35 replies

DomesticatedZombie · 08/05/2022 10:20

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-59399309

"He's gone from putting cameras in a bag on the beach, with people sunbathing... to then going extreme into filming in leisure facilities and finally hacking into people's computers."

...

"He changed his real name by deed poll before he was officially charged so he could protect his privacy.

He was able to use his new name and so protect his identity throughout the court case, from being charged to sentencing, giving him the luxury to remain "unknown"."

This is clearly a man who went to enormous lengths to spy on women - a huge number of women - over the course of an extended period of time.

Victims called his sentence 'unduly lenient' . (He got a 2 year suspended sentence and is on the SRO).

The woman quoted here is asking for voyeurism to be included on the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

'The Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, under which people can appeal a sentence, has been expanded six times and includes many serious sexual offences.

Most recently, sexual offences involving an abuse of trust, indecent images offences and domestic abuse offences were added, however voyeurism is not currently included within its scope.'

OP posts:
EmbarrassingHadrosaurus · 08/05/2022 12:55

If I were confident that the active monitoring is as above, I would find that comforting.

However, I find the discussion about the Register difficult because of the threads on FWR about how straightforward it is to persuade some police forces to remove it (iirc, West Yorks is particularly obliging along with areas of Wales). And that's aside from the issue of name changing.

site:mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights register sex offenders remove name

Artichokeleaves · 08/05/2022 12:26

A suspended sentence where he will have rigorous conditions, intensive rehabilitation hammering down on him how wrong his actions were and the threat over his head that if he doesn't comply he will go to prison. Plus a 10 year Sexual Harm prevention order where he will have his devices checked regularly, be rigorously monitored and face up to 5yrs custody if he breaches it is more likely to stop him offending than a short prison sentence, locked up with like minded sex offenders who will validate his beliefs making him more likely to reoffend on release, be more skilled at being able to hide his offending and little or no rehabilitation.

I wish this explanation was much more widely known and frequently explained to Joe Public particularly in the scandal rag type newspapers.

The problem is that the public take away from 'suspended sentence' is 'he got away with it' and there is an undeniable increase in these crimes as male people are getting steadily more confident that offending against females comes fairly consequence free. Most serious sex offenders are male and most show a steady escalation in their history through severity of crime as their confidence builds that they are getting away with it.

mrshoho · 08/05/2022 11:25

Wouldn't you think in the interests of public safety that his mug shot should be published? He changed his name and acquaintances who knew him under his previous name could be completely in the dark. Why is it that some criminals get rightly shamed in print but others don't.

andweallsingalong · 08/05/2022 11:15

Agree 2 yrs max in the sentencing guidelines is unduly lenient and needs revisiting, but....

And I'm probably going to be flamed for this

A suspended sentence where he will have rigorous conditions, intensive rehabilitation hammering down on him how wrong his actions were and the threat over his head that if he doesn't comply he will go to prison. Plus a 10 year Sexual Harm prevention order where he will have his devices checked regularly, be rigorously monitored and face up to 5yrs custody if he breaches it is more likely to stop him offending than a short prison sentence, locked up with like minded sex offenders who will validate his beliefs making him more likely to reoffend on release, be more skilled at being able to hide his offending and little or no rehabilitation.

Shit for the victim, but I think the judgement to suspend was right in this case and she may have felt better if she'd felt able to go to court as judges are usually very sympathetic and good at explaining to victims.

Original poster
DomesticatedZombie · 08/05/2022 11:10

I hope that the name on the SRO will be his new name.

OP posts:
DifficultBloodyWoman · 08/05/2022 11:07

So that bastard gets to keep his privacy even though he violated the privacy of 170+ women?

It is outrageous. Isn’t there a requirement to use a new name (changed by deed poll) in all aspects of life? Otherwise, it is just a joke!

Pluvia · 08/05/2022 11:03

I'm going to forward this article to my MP and ask for her comment. If enough of us do this, surely we can raise a stink. His cunning and forethought are very worrying. Now he's got away with this, what will he think he can get away with next?

mrshoho · 08/05/2022 11:03

Such a lenient sentence it is sickening. We have women serving prison sentences for TV licence evasion.

This man was reported as having a history of mental health issues. Yet he was astute enough to change his name to avail of anonymity in reporting. So wrong.

SickSadWorld · 08/05/2022 10:59

Jesus christ. Nearly 170 victims and he gets a suspended sentence.

Whatwouldscullydo · 08/05/2022 10:57

That " sentence " is pathetic. He's gotten away with it.

Anyone who ever says " just go to the police" surely must see by now there's no point. That the system is designed by men fir men to get away with almost all sexual offences towards women.

Its barbaric. She was probably better off not knowing tbh. Now she will live forever in a self imposed prison while he carries on a free man.