Court shame of voyeur ex-inspector

A retired Northumbria Police inspector has been put on the sex offender’s register after being caught videoing a woman in a state of undress.

Gerard Fairclough, known as Ged, videoed the woman on separate occasions between October 2020 and July last year, and was finally caught when she found his mobile phone. One video lasting over three and a half hours was found on the phone.

Fairclough, of Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, appeared at Durham Crown Court to be sentenced for four counts of voyeurism. He pleaded guilty to the offences at a previous hearing. He was not a serving Northumbria Police officer at the time the offences were committed.

Jamie Hill QC, defending, said it was “bordering on unfathomable to understand how a 54-yearold with a previous exemplary record” had committed the offences. He said: “He’s deeply sorry and ashamed.”

Fairclough was given a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years and must carry out 220 hours of unpaid work. He will be on the sex offender’s register for life.