JOHN BERRY'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN PAIGNTON AND SWINDON: VOYEURISM AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SHOCK THE NATION

In a disturbing series of criminal acts spanning over a decade, John Berry, a 36-year-old man with connections to both Paignton and Swindon, has been found guilty of a range of serious offences involving voyeurism and the production and possession of indecent images of children. The gravity of his crimes was laid bare during court proceedings, revealing a pattern of predatory behavior that has left his victims deeply traumatized.

Berry’s offending came to light in April 2021, when authorities uncovered a hidden camera installed in the bathroom ceiling of his residence in Paignton, which he shared with his mother. This discovery was triggered by a report from a woman in Swindon, who had contacted police in 2018 after Berry allegedly attempted to pay her son to record her while she was sleeping. Although this particular allegation did not lead to formal charges, it prompted a police investigation that uncovered far more disturbing evidence.

During the investigation, officers found that Berry had been engaging in voyeuristic activities for over ten years. He admitted to being a self-described “voyeurism addict,” with a history of secretly filming women and girls without their knowledge or consent. His methods included using covert cameras hidden in various locations, such as his former home in Wantage and a friend’s property, where he would record unsuspecting individuals. One particularly heinous act involved filming a woman performing a sexual act on him using a USB stick spy camera. Additionally, he was caught on camera filming up a young girl’s skirt while she was on a bus, an act that exemplifies the disturbing nature of his offenses.

Among his victims was a young girl, whom Berry believed to be around five or six years old when he took photographs of her. However, Berry later claimed he thought she was older, indicating a troubling awareness of the inappropriate nature of his actions. He told detectives that he had deleted many of the images and videos from his computer, but he also admitted to having a sexual interest in underage girls, acknowledging his addiction and the need for punishment.

Forensic analysis of Berry’s digital devices revealed a horrifying collection of illegal material. Investigators uncovered folders containing images and videos of five women and girls, some dating back nearly ten years. The files included a staggering total of 150 indecent images classified as Category A, which includes the most severe material such as child rape, with children as young as three years old depicted. There were also 100 images in Category B and over 2,700 in Category C. Among the videos, 83 were classified as Category A, illustrating the severity of his offenses and the industry of exploitation he was fueling.

During the court hearing, Berry was visibly distressed, covering his ears as victims and the father of one of the girls he had harmed recounted the devastating impact of his actions. One woman, in a victim personal statement played in court, described her ongoing suffering: “I suffer with anxiety. I haven’t been able to leave the house since [being told she’d been secretly filmed]. I have kept my children at home because I feel like I need to keep them close to me because I don’t want something to happen to them. There is just so much going on in my head and I just think what if they [hidden camera devices] are in my house. What if my children are being videoed? It’s just destroying me.”

Judge Peter Crabtree sentenced Berry to three and a half years in prison, emphasizing the seriousness of his crimes. The judge pointed out that one of Berry’s victims had felt guilty for speaking out, but reassured her that she was not at fault. “She shouldn’t, of course,” the judge stated. “The only person who is guilty is you.” He further condemned Berry’s actions, stating, “Anyone who downloads indecent images of children as you did and as is reflected in charges eight to 13 is fueling an abhorrent industry which very often has serious life-long physical and psychological impacts on the victims concerned.”

Berry, who now resides on Totnes Road in Paignton, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to charges of voyeurism, producing indecent images of children, and possession of such images across categories A to C. His defense argued for leniency, citing his remorse, efforts to address his problematic interests through courses, and the difficult conditions he faced in prison during the pandemic. It was also noted that Berry is the primary carer for his mother, with whom he now lives in Devon.

Despite these mitigating factors, Judge Crabtree made it clear that the offenses were so grave that only immediate imprisonment was appropriate. Berry was also ordered to register as a sex offender and to remain under a lifelong sexual harm prevention order, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to prevent further harm.

Earlier, in December 2020, Berry had appeared before Swindon Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to four counts of voyeurism and three charges of making indecent images of a child. The charges related to recording activities between 2017 and 2018 in Paignton, as well as offenses committed in Swindon between 2006 and 2015. The court granted Berry bail to await sentencing at Swindon Crown Court scheduled for January 22, with strict conditions preventing him from entering Swindon unless for court proceedings or prearranged meetings, and prohibiting contact with children under 16 or witnesses involved in the case.