TIMOTHY GOWIN FROM BRANSTON CAUGHT FILMING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL AT MELTON LEISURE CENTRE

In February 2019, a disturbing incident occurred at Waterfields Leisure Centre in Melton, involving Timothy Gowin, a man well-known to the staff at the facility and a regular swimmer. The incident centered around a 14-year-old girl who was at the public swimming pool with a group of friends. Around 4:30 pm on September 15 of the previous year, the girl informed her friends that she was heading to the unisex changing area to change her clothes.

While she was removing her swimming costume in the changing cubicle, she noticed something alarming: Gowin’s mobile phone was positioned near her feet. Recognizing the potential danger and invasion of her privacy, she quickly alerted the staff members present. Gowin was promptly arrested following the incident.

He was brought before Leicester Magistrates’ Court on the following Friday, where he pleaded guilty to the charge of voyeurism. During the court proceedings, a victim impact statement was read aloud, revealing the profound effect the incident had on the young girl. She expressed her fear and distress, stating, “After the incident I was really scared and shaken up. I don’t want to go back to the swimming baths. I think he might have overheard me saying to my friends I was getting changed and then he followed me. The reason I went into the cubicle was for privacy. I’m very shy about things like this and feel insecure about my body. I worry about who else might have seen the photos and I’m worried he might do it to someone else. I’m scared of older men now and I’m usually very bubbly.”

She also shared that the incident had caused upset within her family and had negatively impacted her school work. The court was informed of a probation report which indicated that Gowin, aged 42, had developed an unhealthy dependence on online pornography after leaving his employment at a ski resort in Finland and returning to live with his parents in The Rock, Branston, near Melton. Despite this, Gowin denied any paedophilic tendencies and insisted he believed the girl to be approximately 30 years old.

Representing Gowin, Steve Williams, emphasized his client’s remorse and empathy for the victim. Williams stated, “The signs I’ve seen from him are genuine remorse and empathy with the victim. He entirely understands how she must feel. He’s ashamed to be here and ashamed of his behaviour throughout, particularly when he realised the age of the victim. It was very much a spur of the moment incident. He wishes to make it clear he has no interest in children whatsoever.”

Chairman of the bench, Christopher Thompson, acknowledged the seriousness of the offence, noting that it could warrant a prison sentence of up to 26 weeks. However, due to Gowin’s guilty plea, the sentence was reduced to a two-year community order. Additionally, Gowin was ordered to pay the girl £1,000 in compensation for the trauma caused. The court also mandated that he pay an £85 victim surcharge and £85 towards prosecution costs.

As part of his community order, Gowin is required to spend five days working with probation officers to address his offending behaviour and up to 90 days on a specialized sex offender course. Furthermore, he will be required to sign the sex offenders register, marking a significant legal step in monitoring his conduct moving forward.