Man planted camera to film woman

An Easter Ross man who secretly planted a camera to film a woman undressing and showering in a Highland property escaped a jail sentence yesterday.

Greg Spence, 51, appeared for sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court before Sheriff Margaret Neilson and admitted a charge of voyeurism by operating a covert camera with the intention of recording a female in the act of undressing or taking a shower. The offence took place on April 19 last year. The victim cannot be named for legal reasons.

Sentence had earlier been deferred for a background report and Spence, of High Street, Invergordon, was immediately placed on the sex offenders register.

The court was told the woman had gone for a shower and was drying her hair when she noticed a thin black cable running up a wall behind a picture.

Fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart said she removed the picture and saw a small hole in the wall “in which was a very small camera”.

Mr Urquhart added: “The spy hole gave a clear view into the bathroom, covering the sink, toilet and bath.”

Mr Urquhart said Spence was later challenged about the discovery. “However, he claimed innocence, stating that he did not know anything about it.”

His computer equipment was later analysed and footage of a young woman being naked or in a state of undress showering was found.

Defence solicitor Alison Foggo said: “He is shameful, disgusted and embarrassed by this.”

But after being told that Spence cared for his “largely bed-ridden" wife and had his own health difficulties, Sheriff Neilson decided against jailing him.

As an alternative, he was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid community work, placed under supervision for three years and ordered to participate in a sex offenders programme.