AIDEN PEEL SENTENCED IN LIVERPOOL FOR REVOLTING VOYEURISM ACTS
Aiden Peel, 24, from Mersey Road, Aigburth, was convicted of voyeurism after secretly filming a woman in a bathroom and keeping the footage for several weeks.Peel had downloaded a Secret Camera Recorder app before placing his phone in the bathroom to record an unsuspecting victim.
The footage showed the woman going to the toilet, undressing until she was naked for a shower, and drying herself off.
The sick voyeur also unintentionally filmed himself setting up the covert device on a sink and returning later to retrieve it.
Peel explained that he downloaded the app after being "inspired" by a YouTube video and believed it would be useful for "pranks".
However, he kept the videos for five or six weeks before they were "discovered by chance" by his girlfriend after a night out.
During a trial at Liverpool Crown Court in April, the jury found Peel guilty.
The court heard that Peel was "heavily intoxicated" following his night out, with his now ex-girlfriend stating she had never seen him in such a state.
Recorder Ian Unsworth QC remarked on Peel's condition, saying, "He couldn't speak, he was crawling on the floor and she was concerned as to what he had consumed.
She wanted to speak to his friends to find out who he had been with." While additional activity on Peel’s phone raised concerns, the sentence focused on his voyeuristic actions.
His ex-partner shared that she discovered upsetting information and found the app, which contained one video of the victim.
Feeling confused, upset, and distressed upon realizing it was a secret recording, she contacted a friend and then police.
Officers spoke to both her and the victim before Peel was arrested and interviewed.
Peel maintained throughout that the incident was "a prank that went wrong," a claim the jury rejected.
The court noted the app used Peel's phone's front-facing camera, which recorded a 16-minute clip without any visible activity on the screen, making it appear inactive.
Prosecutor Stella Hayden confirmed the woman filmed did not want her victim personal statement read publicly, acknowledging the profound impact the incident had on her.
The court further learned Peel's actions involved careful planning, as he had sought out the app online because it wasn't available on Google Play.
There was no evidence that the footage had been shared or seen by anyone else.
Defense lawyer David Polglase argued that there was no indication of distribution and emphasized Peel’s youth and potential for rehabilitation, noting he was living with relatives of his new partner and was about to become a father.
Polglase urged the court to consider the impact of custody on Peel’s ability to support his pregnant girlfriend and their unborn child, as well as his job prospects.
However, Judge Unsworth emphasized that the clip’s potential distribution was a serious concern and that, but for its accidental discovery, it might never have been deleted.
The judge was not convinced by Peel’s claim of forgetfulness, citing significant planning and deliberate action.
The judge noted Peel’s limited remorse, recognizing his expression of regret but highlighting his continued claim of innocence.
Peel was assessed as a "medium risk of harm" and was advised of the possibility of rehabilitation.
But he concluded, "This was a gross invasion of the victim’s privacy.
It was a cunning, deliberate, and premeditated act." Ultimately, Peel was sentenced to nine months in prison, handed a five-year restraining order to protect the victim, and ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years.
As he was led away, Peel expressed affection to his new girlfriend and family, saying, "I love you."
