RICHARD WHYLEY STOURBRIDGE UPSKIRT PERVERT SPARED JAIL AFTER FILMING WOMEN IN WORCESTER AND MALVERN

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities, Richard Whyley, a resident of Stourbridge, was found guilty of a series of voyeuristic crimes involving the secret filming of women in Worcester, Malvern, and his hometown. The offences, which took place between June 26 and August 15, 2019, involved the use of a covert GoPro camera hidden inside the toe of his shoe, allowing him to capture thousands of images of women’s buttocks and genitals without their consent.

Whyley’s actions came to light after a brave 16-year-old girl, who was shopping at H&M in Worcester on August 16, 2019, noticed the clicking sound of a camera and saw him rushing away from her. She later observed him holding his mobile phone with a visible camera app, which she reported to the police. Her quick thinking and courage effectively ended Whyley’s depraved campaign, which also included recording women in their homes having sex.

Following her report, authorities traced Whyley’s movements through CCTV footage from Worcester city centre, leading to his arrest at the University Arena, where he was working as a sub-contractor testing fire alarms. During the search of his vehicle and belongings, police discovered two pairs of shoes with holes cut into the toes, a SD card containing 94 images and videos, and the GoPro camera that had captured a staggering 6,436 images. Among these were photographs of women in various states of undress, including topless or in underwear, as well as explicit images of women changing or engaged in sexual acts.

Whyley, aged 32, admitted to multiple charges, including voyeurism, two counts of recording images under clothing without consent, and operating recording equipment beneath clothing without permission. He claimed that he did not target blondes specifically and insisted that his actions were motivated by a fleeting sense of excitement, which he said eventually wore off. He also stated that he had viewed similar upskirting videos on a pornography website and that he was ashamed of his behaviour, which he had not disclosed to many people, only confiding in his partner.

During the court proceedings, Whyley explained that he had cut holes in the toes of his shoes to facilitate covert filming, changing into special boots when he intended to take pictures. He also claimed that he was not targeting any specific demographic, although he admitted to the voyeuristic acts and expressed remorse. The police investigation revealed that the images included footage of women in their homes, some of whom were engaged in intimate activities, raising serious concerns about his breach of privacy and personal safety.

Despite the severity of his crimes, the judge at Worcester Crown Court decided to impose a community order rather than jail time, citing Whyley’s engagement with therapy and the potential for rehabilitation. He was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes 40 days of rehabilitation activities and participation in an accredited sex offender programme. Additionally, Whyley was ordered to pay £750 in compensation to the victim who identified him in a Worcester shop. He was also placed under a five-year sexual harm prevention order and subjected to a four-month electronically monitored curfew from 9 pm to 6 am.

Whyley’s case will be formally heard at Worcester Crown Court on April 9, where a pre-sentence report will be prepared. Until then, he is required to sign the sex offender register and remains on unconditional bail. The case has raised significant concerns about privacy violations and the need for stricter measures to prevent such invasive acts in the future.