Grimsby Telegraph

Pervert jailed after setting up a secret camera to film female victims

MAN DOWNLOADED THOUSANDS OF INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN

- By PAIGE FRESHWATER paige.freshwater@reachplc.com @PaigeFresh­water

A PERVERT who set up a secret camera to film female victims has been jailed.

Mark Clapson, 39, of Cawkwell Hill, Cawkwell, near Louth, also downloaded thousands of indecent images of children from the internet. He pleaded guilty to three charges of voyeurism and three charges of producing indecent images of children at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday.

He also admitted three charges of making indecent images of children involving a total of 31,213 images and further admitted possession of 24 extreme pornograph­ic images. Luc Chignell, prosecutin­g, said that Clapson was arrested after police received informatio­n and as a result searched his home. Mr Chignell said “There were indecent images of children on several devices. In addition to that officers found images which it is clear the defendant was responsibl­e for taking using a hidden camera. It is clear that on his own admission he has a sexual interest in children and acted upon it in these ways.” Clapson was jailed for two years and nine months. He was placed on the sex offenders register indefinite­ly and given a life-long sexual harm prevention order. The devices he used to access the illegal images were ordered to be forfeited and destroyed.

Judge John Pini QC told Clapson that the lives of the victims who had been secretly filmed have been shattered. “This has had an absolutely devastatin­g effect,” said the judge.

David Eager, in mitigation, said that Clapson admitted to having a sexual interest in children and since his arrest has sought counsellin­g. “His conduct was appalling and he knows it was appalling,” said Mr Eager.

 ??  ?? Lincoln Crown Court.
Lincoln Crown Court.

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