ANTHONY WILLETT'S SHOCKING VOYEURISM IN LEEDS AND TADCASTER: A CRIME REVEALED

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Leeds and Tadcaster, Anthony Willett, aged 44, has been sentenced to prison for a series of heinous voyeuristic crimes spanning over four years. The offences involved secretly filming women and children in private settings, exploiting their trust and causing significant emotional distress.

Prosecutor Matthew Bean detailed the extent of Willett’s illicit activities during his appearance at York Crown Court. Among the most troubling incidents was Willett’s covert filming of a young girl during a reading lesson in a classroom. He concealed a video camera beneath a table, capturing footage of her legs as she focused on her reading. This act of voyeurism was part of a broader pattern of invasive behavior that included filming a woman friend and her young daughter while they used the toilet during an overnight stay at Willett’s residence.

In addition to these private acts, Willett was caught taking sneaky photographs up women’s skirts in various shops, further demonstrating his persistent pattern of voyeuristic conduct. The police investigation into his activities was triggered when staff at a Boots store on Albion Street in Leeds noticed suspicious behavior. CCTV footage revealed Willett with a camera protruding from a plastic bag, actively filming up a woman’s skirt. Recognizing the suspicious nature of his actions, the staff promptly contacted law enforcement authorities, leading to his arrest.

When authorities raided Willett’s former home in Tadcaster, they uncovered a disturbing collection of digital material. On his computer, they found 112 homemade voyeuristic films, along with 226 images of child pornography downloaded from the internet. The police also discovered eight hardcore porn videos, highlighting the severity of his illegal activities. Willett’s online behavior included sending mild child pornography to others on two separate occasions, further illustrating his perverted pursuits.

Judge Peter Benson addressed Willett directly during the sentencing, expressing grave concern over the betrayal of trust involved in his crimes. He emphasized the emotional harm inflicted on the victims, particularly noting the distress caused to Willett’s friend and her daughter. The judge sentenced Willett to 16 months in prison and imposed a lifelong sexual offences prevention order. This order prohibits him from creating or storing any videos involving children under 16 and bans him from working with children for the rest of his life. Additionally, Willett was placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years.

Willett, who resides on Hawthorn View in Leeds, pleaded guilty to 25 charges, including voyeurism, outraging public decency, making and distributing child pornography, and possessing illegal images. His actions have had profound personal consequences; he lost his job, his marriage, and faced social ostracism from some friends and family members. Despite the gravity of his crimes, Willett expressed remorse and claimed to be genuinely sorry for his actions. He also revealed that he has been struggling with personal issues, which he attempted to cope with through alcohol consumption. Currently, he is undergoing therapy in an effort to address his behavior and prevent future offenses.