MAN SENTENCED AFTER TRYING TO FILM WOMAN IN SHOWER
A man who admitted to attempting to record a woman in the shower received a 12-month community order and was subjected to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.Ian Birchenough, age 56, was apprehended after the victim spotted a mobile phone on two occasions during the incident that took place on March 26, 2024.
He, residing at Pacey Way in Grantham, pleaded guilty to a single charge of trying to observe a person engaged in a private activity.
Mitigation presented by Dominic Sabino stated that Birchenough was planning to leave Grantham after his court case concluded and asked the court not to impose a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Sabino also highlighted that Birchenough had been assessed as posing a low risk of reoffending in a pre-sentence probation report.
District Judge Daniel Church, delivering the sentence, observed that Birchenough had demonstrated limited remorse.
He explained that by pleading guilty, Birchenough acknowledged his attempt to derive sexual satisfaction.
The court ordered a 12-month community sentence, including up to 15 days of rehabilitation activities and 180 hours of unpaid work.
Birchenough is also required to pay £500 in compensation to the victim and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years, as well as sexual offender notification obligations for the same period.
A deprivation order was also made against Birchenough to seize his mobile phone.
