WORTHING MAN TARRAN COLLINS JAILED FOR VOYEURISM AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN WORTHING

In March 2016, a disturbing case unfolded in Worthing involving Tarran Collins, a 24-year-old theatre director residing on Shakespeare Road. Collins was brought before Chichester Crown Court to face charges related to voyeurism and the possession of indecent images of children, culminating in a significant prison sentence.

According to court proceedings, Collins was found guilty of secretly installing a video camera in the bedroom of an adult female friend. The purpose of this covert device was to record her while she was undressing, an act that profoundly violated her privacy and trust. The court heard that Collins had visited her home, which was also her family’s residence, under the pretense of friendship. During her absence from the bedroom, he concealed a camera with the intent to secretly film her in a state of undress.

HHJ Christopher Parker, presiding over the case, sentenced Collins to a minimum of 16 months in prison, emphasizing the gravity of his actions. The judge stated, “You have caused an immense amount of trouble and upset. She was a friend of yours. You went to her house, her family’s house, under the guise of being her friend and while she was absent from her bedroom you concealed a camera in there so that you could secretly film and record her getting undressed and being naked in the privacy of her own bedroom.”

Further details revealed that Collins had taken steps to acquire the camera under an alias, demonstrating an awareness of the wrongfulness of his actions. Although the victim discovered the camera, it was operating and recording before she found it. When confronted, Collins initially denied his involvement, adding to the severity of his misconduct.

The court also examined the evidence recovered during Collins’ arrest in March 2015. Authorities found various electronic media, including a device containing 64 indecent images of children, specifically schoolgirls, with six images depicting penetration. An additional indecent image was recovered from a mobile phone. HHJ Parker noted that the only mitigating factor was Collins’ participation in voluntary therapy. However, the court took into account his previous conviction in 2012 for twelve offences of making indecent images of children, for which he received a suspended 12-month sentence.

HHJ Parker expressed concern over the escalation and nature of Collins’ offending, stating, “Given the escalation in your offending, the type of offending and the spread of offences here, you do pose a significant risk of serious harm to members of the public, particularly young women and teenage girls, that risk arising from your committing further specified offences.”

Ultimately, Collins was sentenced to a maximum of 20 months in prison, with a minimum of 16 months to be served. Additionally, he was placed under a sexual harm prevention order for five years, aiming to restrict his future conduct and protect the community from potential harm.