SAMEER MITTER SHOCKS LONDON AND POOLE WITH SECRET VIDEO SCANDAL AT DOLPHIN LEISURE CENTRE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Poole and London, Sameer Mitter, a 35-year-old IT project manager, was found guilty of secretly filming women and children undressing at the Dolphin Leisure Centre in Poole. The incident, which took place between January 1 and October 31 of the previous year, involved the use of covert devices to capture private moments in unisex changing areas, raising serious concerns about safety and privacy at public facilities.

During a court hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on March 26, Mitter admitted to multiple charges, including four counts of creating indecent images of children at levels 1 to 4. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of taking indecent photographs of children and two counts of voyeurism, all related to incidents at the Dolphin Leisure Centre and other locations within Poole. The court was informed that these offences occurred over a span of nearly ten months, highlighting a sustained pattern of invasive behavior.

Judge Samuel Wiggs, presiding over the case, sentenced Mitter to a three-year community order. This order includes supervision requirements, mandatory attendance at a sex offenders' course, and an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). The court also noted that Mitter had previously received a similar three-year community order from Bournemouth Magistrates Court in November of the previous year, after admitting to voyeurism charges. Both orders are to run concurrently, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions.

Details of the offences revealed that Mitter used a pen-shaped camera to secretly record individuals in the unisex changing area of the Dolphin Leisure Centre. The device was discreetly placed in the gap between cubicles, capturing images of women and children as they undressed. The court heard that the incident on October 13 was particularly distressing, with a victim noticing a pen-like object dropped in her cubicle and later realizing it was a camera. When challenged, Mitter fled the scene but was later identified and arrested by police after CCTV footage linked him to the crime.

In mitigation, Mitter’s legal representatives argued that his actions were driven by extreme stress stemming from his demanding job at JP Morgan Chase, which he lost as a consequence of his offences. They emphasized that Mitter had no sexual interest in children and expressed remorse for his conduct. Mitter himself stated, “I am really sorry for my behaviour, I didn’t mean to cause anyone any harm, it was like escapism.”

Further court proceedings revealed that Mitter, who also listed an address in Clifford Way, London, failed to meet the notification requirements of the sex offenders register, which he was ordered to sign for five years. This failure added to the gravity of his case, underscoring ongoing concerns about his compliance with legal obligations.

In a related incident in November 2013, Mitter, then a project manager at JP Morgan Chase, was caught on CCTV secretly filming women and children at the Dolphin Leisure Centre. Prosecutor Lee Turner described how Mitter used a pen-like camera to record individuals in the unisex changing cubicles. The victim, who was changing with her children, noticed the device and reported it to staff. Police investigations quickly identified Mitter, who was arrested at his home in Poole. The police found video files on the camera, believed to have been recorded on the same day, showing multiple women and children in various stages of undress.

Mark Proctor, representing Mitter, explained that his client’s actions were a result of immense stress from his work and personal life. He highlighted that Mitter worked long hours, sometimes seven days a week, and was under significant pressure, especially with a young child at home. Proctor emphasized that Mitter did not intend to record children and placed the camera opportunistically, unaware of who was in the neighboring cubicle. The court was advised that Mitter was deeply ashamed and remorseful, and that he did not pose a sexual threat to children.

As part of the legal process, Mitter was ordered to sign the sex offenders register and was released on bail with strict conditions, including a ban from entering any unisex public changing facilities across the UK. The incident prompted criticism from the mother of the victim, who expressed her outrage and called for more stringent safeguards at the Dolphin Leisure Centre. The centre’s management responded by reaffirming their commitment to safety, noting that staff patrol changing areas regularly and CCTV footage was instrumental in identifying Mitter. The case has raised ongoing concerns about privacy and security in public leisure facilities across the region.