PAUL CARTER FROM FARNBOROUGH CAUGHT FILMING YOUNG GIRLS IN CAMBERLEY AND FARNBOROUGH

In August 2014, a disturbing case involving Paul Carter, a 61-year-old resident of Farnborough, came to light when he was convicted of secretly filming young girls in public spaces. The incident unfolded in two separate locations, Camberley and Farnborough, and drew significant attention from local authorities and the community alike.

On the afternoon of May 24, Carter was observed by vigilant parents in Camberley around 3:30 pm, where he was discreetly capturing images of children aged between five and eight. Some of these children were dressed in school uniforms, which heightened concerns among witnesses. The parents who noticed his suspicious behavior quickly reported it to authorities, leading to further investigation.

Shortly after the Camberley incident, Carter was seen at Farnborough Gate retail park, where he was again caught filming young girls, this time aged between six and nine. His actions did not go unnoticed, and he was observed aiming his mobile phone at the children in both locations. One young girl reportedly told her mother, “Mummy, that man just winked at me,” highlighting the unsettling nature of Carter’s behavior.

Following these events, Carter was seen walking to his car and driving away from the scene. Later, he arrived at Farnborough Gate, where a parent confronted him. During this confrontation, Carter denied that he was filming the girls, claiming he was merely waiting for a phone call. However, police interviews revealed a different story. In his initial interview, Carter stated that he had seen the girls and thought they were “sweet,” insisting that “nothing funny happened.”

In a subsequent interview, Carter admitted to the police that he had indeed been filming the children and expressed that he had wanted to be caught. Johnson Shittu, the prosecutor, explained that Carter’s motivation was to seek help for his urges, as he believed he had not been seen in Camberley and intentionally traveled to Farnborough with the hope of being apprehended. Carter further disclosed that he found the young girls sexually attractive and was suffering from stress and anxiety at the time.

During the court proceedings at Guildford Magistrates Court, Carter initially denied charges of taking indecent photos of children and outraging public decency. However, when the evidence was insufficient for the indecent photo charges, he changed his pleas to guilty on the charges of outraging public decency on August 7. The court acknowledged the seriousness of his actions and the potential harm caused to the victims.

The chairman of the bench, Richard Huckle, sentenced Carter to a community order lasting 36 months. As part of this sentence, Carter will be under supervision, required to attend appointments with probation officers, and participate in programs designed to address his behavior. He is also mandated to complete 160 hours of participation in a sex offenders’ program. Additionally, Carter was ordered to pay costs of £250 and a victim surcharge of £60, reflecting the court’s stance on the gravity of his offenses and the need for accountability.