MAHMUDBAHAR AL SPYING INCIDENT AT BLACKBURN SWIMMING POOL SHOCKS COMMUNITY
In May 2015, a disturbing incident occurred at the Waves swimming pool in Blackburn, involving a man identified as Mahmudbahar Al.The incident drew significant attention from local authorities and the community due to its unsettling nature.
According to court reports, two teenage girls, aged 16 and 17, were in a changing cubicle at the Blackburn swimming pool when they experienced an alarming invasion of their privacy.
The girls, who had been in the process of changing after swimming, noticed a man peering at them from beneath the dividing partition of the cubicle door.
The girls observed that the man was looking up at them while they were undressed, which caused them considerable distress.
The court proceedings revealed that the girls had previously seen the same individual following them around the pool area, which heightened their discomfort and suspicion.
The incident took place around 3:30 pm, a time when the pool was busy with visitors.
The girls, while chatting and drying off, suddenly became aware of a shadow on the floor.
When they looked down, they saw a pair of eyes staring up at them, an act that left them frightened and alarmed.
In response to the distress, the girls screamed for help, quickly dressed, and sought safety.
Pool staff promptly detained the man, who was later identified as Mahmudbahar Al, a Kuwait national.
The police were called to the scene, and Al was taken into custody for questioning.
During police interviews, Mahmudbahar Al admitted to being attracted to the two girls, which prosecutors cited as a motive for his actions.
The court heard that Al-Anizi, aged 30 and residing at the Islington Motel on Great Bolton Street in Blackburn, pleaded guilty to the charge of observing a person engaged in a private act.
In sentencing, Blackburn magistrates handed down a six-week custodial sentence, which was suspended for 12 months.
Additionally, Al was ordered to pay £50 in compensation to each of the girls and cover £165 in court costs.
As part of his sentence, he was also placed on the Sex Offender Register for a period of seven years.
The incident prompted the closure of the Waves water centre on Sunday, February 22.
The facility reopened on March 9 at the new Blackburn Sports and Leisure Centre, a £13.5 million development that now serves as the community’s primary recreational hub.
The case has left a lasting impression on local residents, highlighting concerns about safety and privacy at public swimming facilities.
