ROGER COUZENS ARLESEY MAN JAILED FOR SECRETLY FILMING GIRLS IN MULTIPLE POOLS ACROSS BEDFORDSHIRE, HERTFORDSHIRE, AND SUFFOLK

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Suffolk, Roger Couzens, a resident of Arlesey, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of secretly filming young girls in various swimming pool changing rooms. The court proceedings, held at Luton Crown Court in February 2003, revealed the extent of Couzens' illicit activities, which spanned over two years from January 2000 to July 2002.

Prosecutor Jane Casson detailed how Couzens' criminal behavior came to light during an incident at Waterworld in Stoke, where he attended a naturist swimming event on June 8 of the previous year. It was during this event that Couzens was observed filming a 12-year-old girl as she was changing. He used a video camera, holding it covertly over the top of her cubicle, capturing footage without her knowledge or consent. This act of voyeurism was witnessed by others, leading to his subsequent arrest.

Following his apprehension, police conducted a thorough search of Couzens' residence on Church Lane in Arlesey. During the search, they uncovered a collection of images and videos that confirmed his visits to multiple swimming pools across the region. The evidence indicated that Couzens had used the mixed changing rooms at these venues to secretly film young girls and teenagers through holes in cubicle walls. The locations where these illicit recordings took place included well-known pools such as Hatfield, Westminster Lodge in St Albans, Biggleswade, Letchworth, the Oasis pool in Bedford, and a swimming facility in Sudbury, Suffolk.

Judge Terence Maher addressed Couzens directly during the sentencing, emphasizing the gravity of his actions. He stated, “These people had no idea you were surreptitiously and salaciously taking these photos for your own sexual gratification.” The judge also imposed a ban preventing Couzens from working with children for the next 20 years and ordered that he be registered as a sex offender for a decade.

Couzens faced multiple charges, including five counts of outraging public decency, 17 counts of taking indecent images, and six counts of making indecent images of a child. His defense attorney, Iain Wicks, acknowledged the severity of the situation, remarking, “The public humiliation will be with him for the rest of his life, but he simply does not understand his own behaviour.” The case has left a lasting impact on the victims and the community, highlighting the importance of vigilance and safeguarding in public spaces.