SEAN O’GORMAN FROM SOUTHAMPTON CAUGHT FILMING TEENAGE GIRL IN SHOWER
In July 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Sean O’Gorman, a publican based in Southampton, who was found to have secretly filmed a teenage girl while she was taking a shower.The incident drew significant attention as it highlighted the invasive nature of his actions and the subsequent legal proceedings that followed.
According to court reports, O’Gorman had placed a covert camera, disguised as an alarm clock, on a bathroom shelf with the intent to secretly record.
His initial aim was to film another woman, but the device ended up capturing footage of a teenage girl showering.
Police investigations uncovered three separate video recordings, each approximately 20 minutes long, stored on O’Gorman’s laptop.
These videos showed the girl in a vulnerable state, and their discovery became a key element in the case against him.
Details of the investigation reveal that police first visited O’Gorman’s residence on January 25, 2015, as part of an unrelated inquiry.
The investigation was initially concerning allegations made against him, but it did not lead to any charges at that time.
During the subsequent examination of his computer equipment, officers found the videos of the teenage girl, which formed the basis of the charges brought against him.
O’Gorman, who was 46 years old at the time of the court proceedings and resides on Winn Road in Southampton, admitted to two counts of voyeurism.
His defense argued that he did not intend to film the girl and was unaware that the footage was stored on his laptop.
He explained that he had installed the camera with the purpose of filming an older woman, acknowledging that there was a risk of capturing others inadvertently.
Despite his admissions, he was found not guilty of five additional counts related to the possession of indecent images.
During the hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court, Fern Russell, representing the defendant, emphasized that O’Gorman’s plea should be taken into account during sentencing.
She pointed out that he is currently acting as a bar manager in Southampton and that his professional life has been significantly impacted by the charges.
Russell also noted that O’Gorman has no previous criminal convictions, which she argued should be considered in his favor.
Judge Jonathan Fuller QC delivered the sentence, which included a three-year community order.
As part of the sentence, O’Gorman is required to attend the Thames Valley Sex Offenders Programme and complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
Additionally, he will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order, aimed at reducing the risk of reoffending.
The judge emphasized that the sentence was not intended to diminish the feelings of shame and violation experienced by the victim but was instead focused on protecting the public and preventing future offenses.
Judge Fuller stated that the order serves the public interest better than a short prison sentence without treatment, underscoring the importance of addressing the underlying issues involved in such cases.
