Cameras spied on teen girls

A MAN who installed hidden cameras in his house to spy on two teenage girls has been jailed.

Graham Bertram (72) was sentenced to five years when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Thursday, September 5.

On August 23, Bertram, of Hill Rise, Birstall, was found guilty of two counts of observing a person doing a private act, one count of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, and two counts of supplying a controlled drug of class B.

In 2015 one of three victims, who was then 15 years old, visited Bertram’s home address. When she turned the television on, she noticed the picture on the screen was showing one of the rooms in the house. She subsequently went into that room, where she discovered a hidden camera.

She believed Bertram had installed it in order to watch her and reported the matter to police. The victim also said that there had been occasions whereby Bertram would also instigate conversations of an inappropriate nature and on some occasions had touched her in an inappropriate way.

As part of the investigation, two other victims were identified who both said that they too had visited Bertram’s address when they were teenagers.

One of the victims told police she also found a camera at Bertram’s address and that he gave her amphetamines and cannabis.

The other victim said that Bertram had touched her inappropriately.

Bertram has been placed on the sex offenders register and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Detective Constable Kate Dabrowska, of Leicestershire Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit (CAIU) said: “This is a particular sinister case – Bertram’s victim was completely unaware that he’d been watching her.

“He was doing it for his own sexual gratification and there is little doubt that he thought his actions would ever be uncovered. However, his victim was quick to realise that something wasn’t right when she saw the picture on the television and reported the matter to police.

“We don’t know whether Bertram ever filmed anyone else who visited his address and I hope his victim can take some comfort from the fact he has been brought to justice and is now serving a custodial sentence.”

Bertram was found not guilty of causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity at trial.

There are a number of different agencies who are able to offer independent help and support to victims of sexual offences in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Further information on these services and details on who to contact if you have been a victim of a sexual offence can be found by visiting http://leics.police.uk