A MAN has been given a suspended prison sentence after spying on a young girl at a Wrexham swimming pool.
Matthew Christopher Wynne, 45, used a mobile phone to watch the girl in a cubicle, Wrexham Magistrates Court heard.
Wynne had previously denied a charge of obtaining sexual gratification in observing a person carrying out a private act, but was convicted.
The offence happened in August at Wrexham’s Waterworld leisure complex.
Huw Evans, prosecuting, told the court the victim, a high school aged pupil, went to the swimming baths with friends. As she was dressing she saw a mobile phone appear from an adjoining cubicle.
“There was a mirror image. She bent down for a closer look. She was horrified,” Mr Evans said.
When the girl realised she was being spied on she went out of her cubicle to investigate, but Wynne had left.
However CCTV footage showed Wynne entering the adjoining cubicle and staying there for a short period of time.
Melissa Griffiths, defending, told the court Wynne, of Earle Road, Bramhall, Cheshire, was a self-employed information technology consultant.
She spoke of the catastrophic effect of the court case on Wynne’s family life and said he would be appealing against the conviction.
Miss Griffiths said the allegation involved observing someone carrying out a private act and not making a recording of the act.
“This is his first brush with the criminal justice system,” she said.
“There is no suggestion that what took place on that day was recorded, no suggestion that it has been shown again.”
Wynne was given a four-month prison sentence , suspended for a year.
He was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £650.
A seven-year ban was imposed on him entering swimming baths and leisure centres unless accompanied by his wife and he is not to take a device capable of recording into the premises with him.
Wynne also has to register with the police.
A Wrexham Council spokesman said after the hearing: “Thankfully this was a rare occurrence. It does illustrate how effective the CCTV and staff supervision are.”