LIAM GORMLEY OF NEWCASTLE JAILED FOR VOYEURISM AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In October 2012, Liam Gormley, a former Newcastle City Council employee, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for using secret cameras hidden in staff toilets to spy on colleagues. Gormley, aged 32 and residing on Benton Road, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to 27 charges, including voyeurism and offences related to indecent images of children. He was also disqualified from working with children and had been suspended following his arrest; he no longer works for the council.

The Newcastle Crown Court ordered Gormley to sign the sex offenders register for a period of 10 years. A spokesperson for Newcastle City Council stated, “Newcastle City Council is pleased that the criminal prosecution against Gormley is now concluded. This has been a distressing time for the staff affected. The council has and will continue to support these staff through access to counselling and other support services. Gormley was immediately suspended from duty once the council became aware of the allegations. He subsequently resigned.”

Earlier in September 2012, Gormley had pleaded guilty to charges including voyeurism and making indecent images of children. He was suspended by the council after investigations uncovered 29 offences linked to his conduct, which involved locations across the North East such as leisure centres, a holiday camp, and a dance studio. The charges covered offences like possessing, creating, and distributing indecent images, as well as possessing extreme pornography.

The court proceedings revealed that the police investigation led to the seizure of images implicating Gormley in these crimes, and his guilty plea was entered at Newcastle Crown Court prior to his sentencing scheduled for 26 October.