A man considered a “sex pest” has been banned from having a girlfriend without informing social workers.
Andrew Thomas, 49, was caught recording his 65-year-old neighbour changing in her bedroom with an iPhone hidden inside a vase of artificial flowers at her home near Pitlochry, Scotland.
He is said to have befriended the victim and secretly set up the camera phone in the artificial flowers in her bedroom, filming her changing over several months. The shocking discovery was made when the horrified victim found the hidden device while rearranging her artificial flowers. The phone's memory was found to contain over 40 hours of intimate footage of her in various states of undress.
Thomas’s actions were further exposed when he was caught sneaking around inside the property by the woman’s daughter and her partner. He confessed to what he had done, admitting to the police that he had romantic feelings for the victim.
Sheriff Alison McKay placed Thomas on the Sex Offenders Register for five years and ordered him to complete 300 hours of unpaid community service.
Fiscal Depute Rachel Hill told the court that the woman, who lives alone in a small village near Thomas’s home, discovered the hidden phone on July 29, 2023. Hill explained:
"The complainer was rearranging artificial flowers at the foot of her bed when she noticed an object within the vase, with a camera lens pointing toward her bed. Further investigation revealed it was a mobile phone attached inside the vase, connected to a power bank."
"The video recording had been running for 40 hours and 45 minutes. Upon reviewing the phone's gallery, the complainer’s daughter found 34 files, many containing intimate images of her mother in various stages of undress and nudity."
The court heard that Thomas and the victim had a friendly relationship, often socializing together over coffee, drinks, and dog walks.
Defending Thomas, solicitor Linda Clark said:
"It seems Mr Thomas was infatuated with the complainer. He thought a friendship was going to develop into something more. However, that is no excuse for placing a recording device in her household. He misinterpreted the situation."
The court was told that Thomas had been recording the unsuspecting woman from January 29 to July 29, 2023.
Sheriff McKay condemned his actions, saying:
"The circumstances of the offence are quite concerning and involve a violation of the complainer’s home and her privacy. I’m not certain whether it’s made better or worse that she was someone you befriended rather than a stranger."
In addition to his community service and registration as a sex offender, Thomas was given a 12-clause conduct order. This includes restrictions on his use of mobile phones and internet devices, a ban on approaching his victim, and prohibitions on forming new relationships without prior notification to social workers.
