MARK BLEZARD FROM BATH AND MORDA JAILED FOR VOYEURISM IN SHREWSBURY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Morda and Bath, Mark Blezard, a 54-year-old former businessman, has been sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of multiple voyeurism offences. The court proceedings, held at Shrewsbury Crown Court, revealed the extent of Blezard's criminal activities, which involved the use of hidden cameras to secretly record women in private settings.

According to court reports, Blezard, who previously resided in Morda and more recently in Hanover Street, Bath, was linked to the crimes through digital evidence. The investigation uncovered that he had installed covert cameras at two different properties, capturing women as they used toilets and bathrooms. The discovery of these recordings was made after authorities traced Blezard’s online activities to a Russian sex chat room, where he was actively engaged in sharing illicit images.

During the hearing, it was disclosed that Blezard had pleaded guilty to a total of 13 charges related to voyeurism. These charges included the illegal filming of women, possession of indecent images—four of which were classified as the most severe Category A—and three offences involving sexual activity with a child, which were linked to his activities on the chatroom webcam. The court also learned that Blezard’s actions spanned over a decade, with offences dating back to 2008 and only coming to light in April 2017.

A victim, who was unable to be named for legal reasons, delivered a powerful impact statement to the court. She described her feelings of shock and anger at Blezard’s betrayal of her trust, emphasizing the profound emotional trauma caused by his invasive actions. She referred to him as a “miserable, pathetic pervert” and expressed her hope that he would suffer the consequences of his actions.

Prosecutor Howard Searle outlined the investigation process, revealing that detectives had traced email communications linking Blezard to the Russian sex chat room. An email address associated with him was used to upload images to a Russian website, including a disturbing photo of a young girl coming out of a shower, which was directly connected to Blezard. Further forensic analysis of three laptops seized during the investigation uncovered a collection of over 1,500 images and videos, with more than 220 classified as Category A, indicating the most extreme form of indecency.

Judge Anthony Lowe sentenced Blezard to two years in prison and imposed a series of additional restrictions. He ordered Blezard to be subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and required him to sign the sex offenders register for the same period. Furthermore, a five-year restraining order was issued to prevent Blezard from having any contact with the victims involved in the voyeurism offences. The court’s decision underscores the severity of Blezard’s crimes and the impact they have had on his victims, who are now left to cope with the emotional scars inflicted by his invasive and illegal actions.