GARETH ASHTON FROM PRESTATYN CAUGHT FILMING GIRLS IN COLWYN BAY LEISURE CENTRE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Gareth Ashton, a 37-year-old man from Prestatyn, was found guilty of secretly filming young girls in the changing rooms of a Colwyn Bay leisure centre. The incident, which took place over a span of several years, culminated in Ashton receiving a sentence that, while not serving time behind bars, still reflects the severity of his actions.

On May 19, at Mold Crown Court, Ashton was handed a 12-month prison sentence, but this was suspended for two years, meaning he will not serve time unless he commits further offences within that period. Ashton pleaded guilty to eight separate charges, which included making 45 indecent photographs of a child classified as category C, and four counts of voyeurism. These offences paint a troubling picture of a man who engaged in covert and illegal activities over an extended period.

Prosecutor Richard Edwards outlined the timeline of the offences, revealing that the misconduct occurred between 2019 and 2022. The case first came to light on April 22, 2022, when a woman at Colwyn Leisure Centre noticed suspicious behaviour. She had taken two young girls swimming and observed Ashton seemingly following them around the premises. After the girls finished swimming, they were in a cubicle together, changing into their clothes. During this time, the woman, who was in an adjacent cubicle, saw a hand appear above her own cubicle door.

It was then that she realized Ashton had entered a nearby cubicle, holding a camera pointed into the girls’ changing area. She immediately banged on her door and shouted for her partner, who responded by chasing after Ashton. The partner managed to take photographs of Ashton, which were subsequently shared on Facebook. This social media activity led to Ashton’s identification and arrest the following day. Authorities seized his electronic devices, which revealed that Ashton had used hidden cameras to record individuals in the leisure centre, including leaving a camera in a cubicle to record people as he went swimming.

Further investigation uncovered that Ashton’s computer search history indicated an interest in child sexual abuse material, raising serious concerns about his motives and intentions. During a police interview in August 2022, Ashton fully admitted to his behaviour, confessing that the footage gave him a “high” and sexually excited him. The victim’s statement expressed her disgust and distress, stating she feels “physically sick” and that she and the two girls now fear encountering Ashton again.

In court, Judge Wyn Lloyd-Jones described the case as “sad” and acknowledged the impact on the victims and the community. He considered the possibility of immediate imprisonment but ultimately decided that such a sentence would have a detrimental effect on Ashton’s mother, with whom he is close. The judge noted that Ashton is not a sophisticated individual and that addressing his particular needs through rehabilitation would be a more effective way to protect the public.

As a result, Ashton’s sentence was suspended, and he was ordered to complete 45 days of rehabilitation activities, including participation in a 43-session “New Me Strengths” programme. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same duration. His seized devices are to be forfeited and destroyed, and Ashton is required to pay a statutory surcharge as part of his sentence.