MAIDSTONE MAN DAVID SKINNER CAUGHT SPYING ON MOTHER AND DAUGHTER AT RAINHAM SPLASHES
In April 2019, a disturbing incident unfolded at the Splashes swimming pool located on Bloors Lane in Rainham, involving a man from Maidstone named David Skinner.The case came to light when Skinner was caught secretly filming a mother and her 16-year-old daughter, who has learning difficulties, as they changed in the pool’s communal changing facilities.
According to court proceedings, Skinner’s actions were influenced by personal turmoil following the breakdown of his 18-year marriage.
His solicitor, John Roberts, explained to Medway Magistrates’ Court that Skinner’s life had been in upheaval since discovering his wife’s affair.
This emotional distress appeared to have contributed to his decision to engage in the illicit spying, despite having no prior convictions related to such offenses.
On June 29 of the previous year, Skinner, a father of two, visited the leisure centre with the intention of swimming.
The facility offers mixed-gender changing rooms, and Skinner opted to use a family-sized changing area.
After spending approximately an hour in the pool, he returned to the changing room and overheard female voices emanating from an adjacent cubicle.
Skinner later admitted to police that he noticed a hole in the wall, which was caused by a removed bracket, and decided to hold his phone up to it in an attempt to spy on the women.
His actions were described by the prosecution as unplanned; Mr.
Roberts emphasized that Skinner had not premeditated the act but was prompted by hearing the voices.
Importantly, Skinner was unaware that one of the victims was a minor at the time.
Further investigation revealed that the protective tape placed over the hole by staff had been cut away, and police found a blade in Skinner’s bag.
When the mother discovered the phone’s camera lens, she immediately instructed her daughter to cover up and began banging on the wall while shouting for help.
Skinner was confronted by staff and attempted to push past them, but police arrived promptly and confiscated his phone.
Footage recovered from Skinner’s device showed the mother and daughter changing into their swimwear, but police also found evidence indicating Skinner had made two separate attempts to film them after they had finished swimming.
This suggested a deliberate effort to record the pair without their knowledge.
During police interviews, Skinner admitted that he knew his actions were wrong.
He claimed that it seemed like a good idea at the time and expressed the belief that if the victims did not see him, it did not matter.
He also confessed to recording the pair and stated that he intended to watch the footage later at home.
When police presented evidence from his bag, Skinner further admitted that he had already viewed the clip and performed a sex act while in the cubicle.
Following a probation report, the court’s chairman, Richard Moss, sentenced Skinner to a 24-month community order.
As part of this sentence, Skinner is required to participate in the government’s Horizon rehabilitation programme and attend 20 activity sessions.
Additionally, he will be subject to a seven-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits him from entering or using mixed-gender changing rooms.
During this period, Skinner will also remain on the sex offenders’ register and must pay a total of £340 in fines, including an £85 victim surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.
