EDINBURGH PERVERT THOMAS JASON CONNELL JAILED FOR FILMING KIDS AND WOMEN IN THEATRE AND PUBLIC PLACES
Thomas Jason Connell, a 27-year-old actor and musician based in Edinburgh, has been sentenced to prison after a series of disturbing criminal activities involving voyeurism and the possession of indecent images of children.His actions, which spanned over several years, included secretly filming children and women in various private and semi-private settings, and storing explicit material on his electronic devices.
Connell’s criminal conduct came to light during a routine police visit to his residence in Edinburgh, which was part of an investigation into his previous conviction for possessing indecent images of children.
The police had placed him on the sex offenders register in 2023, but further evidence uncovered during the January last year home visit revealed a pattern of disturbing behavior that extended beyond his prior offenses.
During the police search, officers discovered videos showing Connell setting up hidden cameras in the bathrooms of two different homes he had visited.
These recordings captured women showering naked, with footage dating from November 2019 to June 2022.
The victims, including a 17-year-old girl, were reportedly overwhelmed and distressed upon learning about the recordings, with some breaking down in tears when police informed them of the footage taken of them without their knowledge.
In addition to these recordings, police uncovered a covert 48-minute video filmed at an Edinburgh swimming pool in January 2020, which showed children in various stages of undress in the changing rooms.
Further footage, taken between August 2019 and February 2020, depicted children aged between 11 and 16 backstage at two Edinburgh theatres during costume changes.
These recordings included Connell’s face and voice, and the victims had no awareness that they were being filmed.
They later described the footage as shocking, inappropriate, and a gross violation of their trust.
Connell’s criminal activities also extended to public spaces, where he was caught upskirting women at Waverley train station in Edinburgh on separate occasions in December of the previous year.
Police investigations further revealed that he had downloaded two Category A child abuse videos, which depicted children aged between 10 and 14 years old engaged in penetrative sexual activity.
These highly illegal videos added to the severity of his offenses.
In court, Connell pleaded guilty to eight counts of voyeurism and possession of indecent images of children.
His lawyer, Cameron Tait, acknowledged that his client had committed a significant breach of trust and stated that Connell had been engaging with the organization Stop It Now, which works to prevent sexual harm, while in custody.
The court heard that Connell had previously been convicted of possessing indecent images of children and had been on the sex offenders register for two years.
Judge Derek O'Carroll sentenced Connell to a total of 42 months in prison, with the sentence backdated to April of the previous year.
Additionally, Connell was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes.
The judge also imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and a 10-year non-harassment order, specifically targeting one of the victims.
Despite his criminal behavior, Connell’s online presence portrays him as a talented and approachable entertainer.
His website describes him as “a well-rounded entertainer whose soft rock stylings have pleased many an ear,” and highlights his debut album, “Stand Fast,” released in 2019.
He has also participated in several Edinburgh Fringe community theatre productions, including “Annie” and “Whistle Down The Wind.” Police investigations revealed that Connell had been experimenting with voyeurism even before his 2023 conviction, as he voluntarily admitted to officers that he had engaged in such activities.
His devices, including a phone and a laptop, were seized and examined by forensic experts, who uncovered numerous videos of him secretly filming women in bathrooms and children in changing rooms.
The court was told that all victims were unaware of the recordings and later described the footage as deeply disturbing and a violation of their privacy and trust.
