Welsh Holiday Cottage Had Hidden Cameras
Helen YoungA man has received a prison conviction of more than two years for installing hidden cameras to spy on guests who were renting his cottage.
The 54-year-old man charged with this matter, David Sturgess, received a guilty verdict during court proceeding last month on 12 charges of voyeurism and three charges of making indecent images depicting children. The court has also disqualified Sturgess from working with children.
Swansea Crown Court was informed that Sturgess hid cameras in four bogus smoke detectors in order to film people disrobing, showering and even having sex in the cottage situated in the locality of Llandysul, Ceredigion.
Judge Keith Thomas gave him a 30-month prison sentence and said the victims had the right to be devastated since the offences had represented a gross intrusion into their intimacy.
Judge Thomas added people had expected and were entitled to a level of privacy which the perpetrator invaded. Some of the guests filmed by Sturgess were children under the age of 18.
The court was told that Sturgess had built a three-star holiday cottage by converting a farm outbuilding and had installed a series of hidden cameras and video equipment.
Teresa Crick, Sturgess’ former partner, informed court officials how he had installed the secret camera system at their rental cottage adjacent to their own house.
Sturgess had used the internet to advertise the cottage which was rented out for £400-a-week and even had obtain the support of the Welsh Tourist Board.
Ms Crick said Sturgess, would observe his their naked guests via a TV monitor. After their break-up, Ms Crick turned him in to the police.
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Filed under Holiday News, Hotel Chains, Travel News, UK News