Oval Sports Centre pool camera pervert caught in the act

May 8 2009 by Kevin Core, Liverpool Echo

Paul Smith

When they arrived officers recovered a small hand held video camera from one of his socks.

The woman told police she had felt “horrible” and “very shocked”.

Mr Currums explained the footage was downloaded by police, finding footage of various pool users drying themselves, some naked, some half dressed.

Defending him, Quentin Neal said he had been appointed a health worker and Mr Smith was classed as a vulnerable adult.

He had no other criminal convictions and was of previous good character, pleading guilty to the offences at the first opportunity.

Mr Neal said that the videos had not been distributed in any way and his client was deeply sorry for what he had done.

He was sentenced to 100 hours of community work and a two-year supervision order. He must also pay £100 to the husband and wife who alerted the authorities, as well as £80 court costs.

He must sign the Sex Offenders Register for five years; his camera was forfeited and the footage on it destroyed.

Speaking after the court case a Wirral Council spokesman said: “The Oval, as is the standard with modern swimming pools because of the greater flexibility it allows, introduced village style changing areas at the time of its refurbishment last year.

“We take the security and safety of visitors to the Oval and all of our sites extremely seriously, ensuring that staff are regularly present and working around the changing areas during all public swimming sessions to deal with any issues that might arise.”