Leeds binman films woman in shower with home-made selfie stick

Jeffrey Brown, 39, managed to point his mobile phone through the bathroom window of a house in Leeds so he could film the woman.

A court heard Brown was caught when he was spotted by the victim’s partner who confronted him

Leeds Crown Court heard Brown, who was wearing his Leeds City Council uniform at the time, ran off but dropped his driving licence as he fled the property in the Woodhouse area of the city.

Louise Pryke, prosecuting, said police were contacted and Brown was easily identified and traced after the incident, which took place on December 4 last year

The married father-of-one was arrested and admitted to committing the offence because he simply wanted to see a naked woman.

Brown, of Dufton Approach, Seacroft, pleaded guilty to one offence of voyeurism.

Mark Foley, mitigating, said Brown had quit his job with the council after his arrest as he knew he would face the sack upon conviction.

He said Brown had no previous convictions and had behaved out of character.

Mr Foley said Brown had worked for Leeds City Council through an agency for 11 years but had recently been taken on by the local authority as a permanent employee.

The lawyer described the incident as opportunistic and unplanned. He said he had gone to the property by mistake before realising someone was in the shower.

Mr Foley said no one was visible on Brown’s mobile phone footage as the bathroom was full of steam. He added that Brown deleted the footage after running away.

Mr Foley said: “He is thoroughly ashamed and the fear and the anxiety that this has caused has provided an element of punishment in its own right.

“He has had to confess to his mother and wife why he was in court. His family situation is stressful.”

Brown was given a three month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work.

Recorder Abdul Iqbal, QC, said: “The temptation was that you simply wished to see a naked female.

“Whether it was a good quality recording or not we will never know because you deleted those images knowing there was a very good chance that you would be arrested.”