IAN MCCREETH FROM BULWELL CAUGHT FILMING WOMAN IN GRANTHAM LEISURE CENTRE

In a disturbing incident that took place at the Meres Leisure Centre in Grantham, a man identified as Ian McCreeth was caught engaging in voyeuristic behavior by secretly filming a young mother as she changed in a nearby cubicle. The incident occurred after the woman had finished her swimming session and was in the process of dressing when she noticed suspicious activity.

According to court proceedings, Caroline Bradley, the prosecutor, explained that McCreeth, who was in an adjacent cubicle, slid his mobile phone underneath the partition separating their changing areas. The woman, who was in the process of getting dressed, immediately sensed something was amiss. She observed a black iPhone protruding from beneath her cubicle and described herself as feeling frozen with shock. Upon further inspection, she saw the device extending over the top of the partition, clearly indicating that someone was attempting to record her without her consent.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, the woman quickly texted a friend who was also present at the leisure centre. The friend then contacted the police to report the incident. Law enforcement officials responded swiftly, tracing McCreeth and examining his phone. The police found photographs of the woman taken without her permission, confirming the voyeuristic act. Further investigations into McCreeth’s digital devices revealed a disturbing collection of indecent images of children stored on his computer.

McCreeth, aged 33 and residing on Langdown Close in Bulwell, Nottinghamshire, was charged and admitted to committing voyeurism related to the incident on July 21, 2013. In addition, he pleaded guilty to possessing a total of 72 indecent images of children, which were found during the police search of his electronic devices.

The court heard that McCreeth’s actions were serious, but he was sentenced to a three-year community order. This order requires him to participate in a sex offender treatment programme and to undergo three years of supervision. He was also ordered to pay £500 in prosecution costs. Furthermore, a five-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed, explicitly banning him from entering both female and unisex changing rooms to prevent any future incidents.

Judge Simon Hirst, presiding over the case, explained that the court faced a choice between a short custodial sentence and a community order. He expressed the view that the community would benefit more from professional intervention aimed at understanding and reducing the risk of reoffending. The judge emphasized that the community’s safety was best served by efforts to address the underlying issues behind McCreeth’s behavior.

McCreeth’s defense lawyer, Michael Cranmer-Brown, argued that treatment rather than imprisonment would be the most appropriate course of action, highlighting the importance of rehabilitation in cases involving sexual offenses.