MACCLESFIELD MAN STAFFORD CANT CAUGHT IN SHOCKING UPSKIRT SPY CAM SCANDAL IN CHESHIRE VILLAGE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the affluent community of Alderley Edge, Cheshire, Stafford Cant, a 47-year-old businessman from Macclesfield, has been convicted of using covert surveillance devices to secretly film women in public spaces, including upscale boutiques and supermarkets. His actions, which involved the deployment of high-tech spy cameras hidden in everyday items, have unveiled a disturbing pattern of voyeurism and exploitation that spanned over seven years.

Stafford Cant’s methodical approach to his illicit activities included concealing miniature cameras within his footwear, specifically under the laces of his trainers, allowing him to discreetly record upskirt footage of women shopping in one of Britain’s wealthiest villages. His choice of locations was no coincidence; Alderley Edge is known for its wealthy residents, including the wives of Premier League footballers and prominent soap stars, making it a prime target for his voyeuristic pursuits.

Further investigations revealed that Cant had also installed cameras in his wristwatch and car key fob, devices designed to capture images between women’s legs without their knowledge. These covert devices enabled him to continue his disturbing activities across different settings, all while maintaining a facade of normalcy.

When police officers executed a search warrant at Cant’s residence in Macclesfield, they uncovered a vast and disturbing collection of illicit material. The police found a staggering 222,000 videos stored across various devices, with evidence dating back to 2011. Among these were videos of a female colleague filmed covertly from beneath her desk, as well as footage of his former girlfriend lying naked on the floor, unaware of being recorded. The collection also included highly disturbing images of children being abused, as well as videos depicting women suffocating or being strangled to near-death.

The police investigation was initiated after a tip-off, leading to the raid on January 31 of the previous year. During the search, officers seized multiple laptops, computers, tablets, phones, and hard drives, along with a variety of covert recording devices. These included specially modified shoes with built-in cameras, camera-equipped key fobs, and a watch with a hidden camera. Initial analysis of these devices revealed that Cant had been actively using peer-to-peer file sharing software to access and download indecent images, including extreme pornography involving 'snuff' films and acts of asphyxiation, with material dating from February 2012 up to 2017.

Further examination uncovered that Cant had entered sexually charged search terms such as 'paedo mum,' 'early teen,' 'strangled,' and 'asphyxia' on his computer. He had downloaded voyeuristic videos, upskirt footage, and extreme bondage movies. Disturbingly, some of the videos depicted the rape and torture of infants, highlighting the severity of his criminal behavior.

Investigators also found evidence that Cant had shared some of these files online, with at least four files identified as having been distributed via file-sharing networks. His devices showed a pattern of regularly copying and transferring large collections of indecent material to external storage devices, and the file-sharing software was configured to facilitate the sharing of numerous images and videos. Among the most disturbing content were videos of women being suffocated, with masks over their mouths and struggling to breathe.

During police interviews, Cant admitted responsibility for downloading all the images and videos found on his devices. He also confessed that none of the women filmed in his secret recordings had given consent. Despite his claims of having a 'compulsion to collect things' and stating that he derived no sexual gratification from the images, his actions have been deemed highly criminal and deeply invasive.

His defense lawyer, Michael Johnson, argued that Cant had been suffering from depression, which stemmed from traumatic experiences in his childhood. The lawyer noted that Cant had voluntarily sought cognitive behavioral therapy in an effort to address his behavior and its underlying causes.

In sentencing, Chester Crown Court imposed a three-year prison term on Cant. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, aimed at preventing any future offending. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals who exploit technology for voyeuristic and abusive purposes, especially within communities that are often perceived as safe and affluent.