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Holiday cottage voyeur is jailed | Holiday cottage voyeur is jailed |
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A man has been jailed for more than two years for setting up secret cameras to spy on people renting his cottage. | A man has been jailed for more than two years for setting up secret cameras to spy on people renting his cottage. |
David Sturgess, 54, was found guilty of 12 charges of voyeurism and three of taking indecent images of children at a trial last month. | David Sturgess, 54, was found guilty of 12 charges of voyeurism and three of taking indecent images of children at a trial last month. |
Swansea Crown Court heard Sturgess hid four cameras in fake smoke alarms to film guests undressing, showering and having sex at Llandysul, Ceredigion. | Swansea Crown Court heard Sturgess hid four cameras in fake smoke alarms to film guests undressing, showering and having sex at Llandysul, Ceredigion. |
Sturgess was also disqualified from working with children. | Sturgess was also disqualified from working with children. |
Jailing Sturgess for 30 months, Judge Keith Thomas said the offences were a gross intrusion into people's privacy and they were rightly devastated. | Jailing Sturgess for 30 months, Judge Keith Thomas said the offences were a gross intrusion into people's privacy and they were rightly devastated. |
He added: "This was private accommodation which people had paid you to rent out for family holidays and they were entitled to a degree of privacy which you invaded." | He added: "This was private accommodation which people had paid you to rent out for family holidays and they were entitled to a degree of privacy which you invaded." |
At a trial last month, the jury heard some of those filmed by Sturgess were under 18. | At a trial last month, the jury heard some of those filmed by Sturgess were under 18. |
Sturgess showed some reluctance to face the cameras as he left court | |
The court was told he had converted a farm outbuilding into a three-star holiday cottage and bought a network of hidden cameras and video recorders. | The court was told he had converted a farm outbuilding into a three-star holiday cottage and bought a network of hidden cameras and video recorders. |
Sturgess hid four cameras in fake smoke alarms to film guests at the holiday cottage. | Sturgess hid four cameras in fake smoke alarms to film guests at the holiday cottage. |
His former partner, Teresa Crick, had told the court how he set up a secret camera system to spy on holidaymakers staying at their rental cottage next door to their own property. | His former partner, Teresa Crick, had told the court how he set up a secret camera system to spy on holidaymakers staying at their rental cottage next door to their own property. |
He advertised the cottage for £400-a-week on the internet and was backed in the venture by the Welsh Tourist Board. | He advertised the cottage for £400-a-week on the internet and was backed in the venture by the Welsh Tourist Board. |
Ms Crick, 51, said Sturgess, originally from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, would watch a TV monitor showing their naked guests. | Ms Crick, 51, said Sturgess, originally from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, would watch a TV monitor showing their naked guests. |
She reported him to the police after they split up. | She reported him to the police after they split up. |
The victims were 10 females and two males - with three under the age of 18. | The victims were 10 females and two males - with three under the age of 18. |
The jury heard that the covert cameras were able to zoom in on people as they showered, used the toilet, undressed and had sex. | The jury heard that the covert cameras were able to zoom in on people as they showered, used the toilet, undressed and had sex. |
After last month's verdict, the court was told Sturgess has previous convictions for indecent assault and battery. | After last month's verdict, the court was told Sturgess has previous convictions for indecent assault and battery. |