SEX OFFENDER PHOTOGRAPHED BOYS USING URINALS
A man with a sexual criminal history covertly photographed men and boys using the urinals at the West Quay shopping centre in Southampton.He concealed himself in a cubicle and used his mobile phone to secretly record hundreds of images through a small hole in the door.
At Southampton Crown Court, John Sullivan pleaded guilty to 26 sexual offences, which included two counts of voyeurism committed at West Quay.
The majority of the offences involved the creation, possession, or distribution of over 3,000 indecent images and videos featuring children.
Additionally, two charges pertained to the possession of extreme pornography.
Sullivan was also accused of sexually assaulting a boy under the age of 13, as well as taking and sharing images of the child in various states of undress.
The boy's father told the court: "I cry every day and feel sick to the core.
I've had to take days off work because I struggle to control my tears." Francisca Da Costa, prosecuting, said Sullivan was arrested at the Hollywood Bowl at West Quay on January 24 2026.
Police officers examined his mobile phone and discovered the full extent of his crimes.
Sullivan, 34, of Wharncliffe Road in Southampton, sat with his head in his hands as his offending was outlined to the court.
A total of 1,061 images found on the defendant's devices were Category A - the most serious type.
Richard Onslow, mitigating, said: "There is some dawning understanding on his part of the harm he has done.
There's evidence of remorse." Confirming that Sullivan had entered guilty pleas at each stage of the court process he said: "He hasn't sought to weasel his way out of it." Sentencing the defendant, Recorder Barry McElduff KC said police were alerted after Sullivan began communicating with a third party on Snapchat.
He added that at least one of the videos found on Sullivan's devices showed a child in pain and distress.
The defendant, who had no previous convictions, was handed an extended sentence of ten years.
He will spend six years and two months behind bars before being released on licence for three years and ten months.
Sullivan was put on the sex offenders register for 20 years as well as being made the subject of an indefinite restraining order.
Recorder McElduff said he was satisfied Sullivan continued to pose a significant risk to children.
