OMAGH MAN LEE NUGENT SENTENCED FOR VOYEURISM AND CHILD INDECENCY OFFENSES IN OMAGH COUNTY TYRONE

In a serious case that has shocked the community of Omagh, County Tyrone, Lee Nugent, aged 41, has been handed a substantial prison sentence after admitting to a series of disturbing voyeurism and indecent image offenses involving young girls. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of invasive and morally reprehensible behavior carried out by Nugent, who resides on Castleroddy Road in Omagh.

According to court records, Nugent pleaded guilty to three counts of voyeurism, two counts of possessing indecent images of children, and one count of distributing such images. The charges stemmed from incidents that took place between July and August of 2019, during which Nugent engaged in covert activities aimed at young girls in the Omagh area.

Two of the voyeurism charges involved Nugent secretly taking photographs through a window while two separate young girls were in the process of changing clothes. These incidents did not occur simultaneously but were part of a disturbing pattern of invasion of privacy. The girls, who were in a state of partial undress and topless at the time, became aware of Nugent’s presence outside the window, with one of them observing him standing there with his phone raised, capturing images.

Police were alerted immediately after these incidents, but initial searches did not uncover any images. Nugent was questioned in a “no comment” interview, which further complicated the case. A file was subsequently forwarded to the Public Prosecution Service, which initially appeared to recommend against prosecution. However, the police’s cybercrime unit was later called in to investigate further, leading to the discovery of 15 images that were linked to Nugent’s activities.

Further investigation uncovered additional charges, including a voyeurism count involving a covertly taken image of a 12-year-old girl while she was showering. Nugent also faced a charge related to possessing an indecent image of a fourth girl, which he claimed was sent to him by her boyfriend. These offenses painted a disturbing picture of Nugent’s predatory behavior.

During the court proceedings at Dungannon Crown Court, the prosecution highlighted the emotional toll on the victims. While some girls chose not to provide victim impact statements, one expressed fear that Nugent had shared her images with others, although there was no evidence to support this claim. Another girl described feeling “violated” and revealed she had undergone a year of specialist counseling to cope with the trauma.

Judge Peter Irvine QC addressed the court, condemning Nugent’s actions as “despicable” and “depraved.” He emphasized that Nugent’s behavior demonstrated a clear propensity for sexually deviant activity involving young girls. The judge acknowledged the impact on the victims, particularly noting that one girl reported suffering nightmares in which she sees Nugent outside her window. Her trust in others has been severely damaged, and she expressed her determination not to let Nugent’s actions define her future.

In sentencing, Nugent was given a total of four years in prison. The sentence is to be served half in custody and the remaining half on license. Additionally, he was placed under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for ten years and will remain on the sex offenders register for the same period, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to prevent further harm.