2016: MAN JAILED FOR SECRETLY FILMING A WOMAN IN A STATE OF UNDRESS
A NETHERTON man who secretly filmed a woman in a state of undress claimed he did it to prove she snored.Dennis Markland sent the video to the woman's mobile phone with the message, 'Next stop Facebook', Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
The 51-year-old had been involved in a dispute with the victim, said Stuart Clarkson, prosecuting, who added: "She did not know the footage had been taken and she felt sick." After his arrest, Markland, of Upton Street, told police officers his actions were not sexually motivated and he had filmed the video to prove she snored.
He pleaded guilty to voyeurism and was jailed for 15 months.
Markland must also register as a sex offender for the next 10 years, said Judge Amjad Nawaz, who added it was clear his actions had left the woman in a state of considerable anxiety.
"One can only imagine what she must have gone through at that particular time," he said.
It was a serious breach of trust, said the judge, who stressed there was a sexual element to the case.
Simon Hunka, defending, said Markland was full of remorse and added: "He knows he has made a very bad mistake." He continued: "He cannot believe he has put himself in this position.
It was never his intention to distribute the footage and it has only been seen by him." Mr Hunka said that after serving a prison sentence Markland had managed to turn his life around completely and he was now working in the care industry providing assistance to those who needed help.
He accepted what he had done had badly affected the victim and it was inexcusable behaviour.
