A MAN has been put behind bars after recording and stealing intimate images of unsuspecting women.

Ian Lloyd, of Hammonds Place in Gobowen, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentence on Monday morning.

The 35-year-old had previously admitted five counts of voyeurism and eight counts of unauthorised access to data - which took place in Flintshire.

Karl Scholz, prosecuting, told the court that the defendant had, over the course of more than a decade, used hidden cameras to record women in various states of undress.

He'd also accessed women's devices and copied intimate photos of them for himself.

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Altogether, 13 victims were identified when hundreds of images and videos were recovered from his devices in late 2020.

Mr Scholz said the offences came to light when the defendant's suspicious behaviour was reported to the police.

The court heard numerous statements from the victims of Lloyd's voyeurism, who were shocked and horrified to learn about his activities.

One, in a statement read by Mr Scholz, said her self esteem had "hit rock bottom" in the aftermath of the offences, describing "overwhelming" stress and a decline in her mental health.

One of the victims, reading her statement out personally in court, said she felt "sickened."

"I can only describe it as a violation," she said.

Statements were also read from some of those affected by his unauthorised access of their data.

The Leader: Ian Lloyd. Image: North Wales PoliceIan Lloyd. Image: North Wales Police

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One said her privacy had been "violated" by the defendant, and another said the offences made her "skin crawl."

One of the women said her personality had changed since she learned what the defendant had done, making her "paranoid," suspicious of new people and no longer outgoing.

When the defendant was interviewed by police, he denied he'd committed the offences for sexual gratification.

He said he was "intrigued to see women undressed" and that he had an "undiagnosed addiction to seeing such images."

Henry Hills, defending, said: "I begin by making the obvious point; these are non-contact offences.

"It is my submission that his guilty pleas are indicative of remorse.

"He has taken steps to address his offending behaviour.

"He has engaged in individual therapy, which he's paid for himself."

Mr Hills explained his client - who has previous convictions for making and distributing indecent images of children - had also made contact with an organisation which works to help sex offenders to stop committing offences and protect potential victims.

"In my submission," he said, "there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation." 

Judge Niclas Parry told Lloyd his behaviour had been "depraved, calculated, selfish and deliberate."

He added: "[You were] offending without any regard for the privacy and dignity of your victims.

"We have the overall picture; so many victims, so many images. The violation, the humiliation, the significant effect on many."

The Judge handed down an 18 month sentence on each of the offences, to run concurrently, and said the offenses were simply too serious for the term of imprisonment to be suspended.

The defendant has been made subject to the notification provisions of the sexual offences act for ten years, as well as a sexual harm prevention order to run for the same duration.

 

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