Westbury man sentenced after pleading guilty to voyeurism and indecent image offences

A 39-year-old man has been given a three-year community order after pleading guilty to voyeurism and making and possessing indecent images of children.

Richard Biggs, of Westbury, appeared at Salisbury Crown Court on 7th December after previously pleading guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of possession of indecent images of children and one count of voyeurism at a leisure centre.

The community order also includes a rehabilitation activity requirement and sex offender treatment programme, which means he will be monitored by the National Probation Service for three years and will have to undergo intensive offence-focused work in order to address his offending behaviour. If he fails to comply with the order, he will be taken back to court and his behaviour will be reviewed.

As well as this, a sexual harm prevention order was put in place for 10 years which prevents Biggs from attending leisure centres without supervision and entering public parks or recreational spaces where there are children under the age of 16. A programme will also be installed on his computers/mobile devices so officers can monitor his activity.

Officers arrested Biggs on 6th August 2016 following a search warrant at his address. Various computer and mobile devices were seized for analysis.

In interview, Biggs admitted to filming three boys under the age of 12 getting dressed in public changing rooms.

Further analysis of his computer devices found 179 indecent images and movies of children, with 42 of these graded as category A – the most severe images of child sexual abuse.

PC Melonie Neal said, “Biggs’ actions have had a really profound effect on his young victims and their families – this was a gross invasion of their privacy.

“Some of the images found on Biggs’ computer were classed as category A – some of the most severe images of child abuse. Individuals like Biggs who make and possess indecent images or videos of children fuel a demand for more content of this nature.

“We are totally committed to tackling this type of crime and where appropriate, will work with partner agencies to ensure offenders are caught and brought to justice.”