RICKY ABBOTT JAILED IN BRISTOL FOR FILMING NAKED GIRL IN SWIMMING POOL CHANGE ROOM

In November 2017, a man from Bristol named Ricky Abbott was sentenced to prison after being convicted of secretly filming a young girl in a swimming pool changing cubicle. The incident came to light when police officers, conducting an unrelated investigation, examined Abbott’s Apple iPhone 7 and discovered two discreet video clips depicting a ten-year-old girl in the process of changing her clothes.

Abbott, aged 36 and residing on North Street in the Downend area of Bristol, initially claimed that the filming was accidental, attributing it to his tendency for “pocket dialling.” He insisted that he did not intentionally record the girl. However, during the trial held in March, Abbott pleaded not guilty to charges of voyeurism. Despite his defense, a jury composed of six men and six women found him guilty of the offence.

Following the verdict, Mr. James Waddington QC, the presiding judge, sentenced Abbott to 26 weeks in jail. In his remarks, the judge described Abbott as “manipulative and devious at every turn of this case,” highlighting his manipulative behavior throughout the proceedings. The judge also pointed out that Abbott continued to deny the offence even after being convicted, suggesting a lack of remorse.

Abbott was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of seven years and was also subjected to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. This order is intended to prevent any future offending behavior. During the sentencing, Abbott made a dismissive comment to the judge, stating, “It is easier to sit on my bum than do a community order,” reflecting his apparent lack of willingness to engage in rehabilitative measures.

Prosecutor Mark Worsley explained that police discovered the clips during an investigation into an unrelated matter. The footage showed the girl changing into her swimming costume and later drying herself and dressing, with the first clip lasting approximately one minute and forty-four seconds, and the second nearly four minutes long. Worsley emphasized that the videos appeared to be taken deliberately, noting that the hand holding the phone was seen adjusting the camera’s position, indicating intentional recording. The girl was alone in the cubicle and had no reason to believe she was being filmed.

Abbott told police that he did not wish to view the footage and explained that he often kept his phone below the bench, wrapped in a towel and shorts, to prevent it from getting wet. He admitted that he was paranoid about water damage and that he often put his phone in that location. When asked about the recordings, Abbott claimed he was unaware that his phone was recording and that he immediately deleted the clips once he realized what was happening. Despite his explanations, the evidence clearly demonstrated deliberate filming, leading to his conviction and subsequent sentencing.