2016: OPTICIAN MARTIN CLOUGH JAILED FOR SECRETLY FILMING WOMEN AT HIS BOLTON PRACTICE
A 55-year-old optician has been sentenced to 28 months in prison after secretly filming women in his practice in the town centre.Martin Clough, owner of Cloughs Opticians located on Newport Street, admitted to six counts of voyeurism during his appearance at Bolton Crown Court.
Evidence revealed that Clough had installed covert cameras in both toilets and under desks within his business premises.
When police executed a search of his residence on Horrocks Fold Avenue in Sharples, they discovered nearly 24,400 images and 27 video recordings stored on his computer.
Clough’s actions came to light when one of his victims noticed a camera concealed inside an air freshener inside the toilet.
The staff at the opticians then provided the authorities with this evidence.
During court proceedings, prosecutor Brian Berlyne explained that some women had been caught on camera in restrooms, while another was recorded during an eye examination.
Due to the angle of the camera, many victims could not be identified, leading to an unknown number of affected women.
The device positioned under a desk was aimed at areas likely to capture women’s lower bodies, especially those wearing skirts.
The court heard about the distress caused by the incidents.
One woman became hesitant about using public facilities; another expressed anger and feelings of foolishness, while a third continues to be affected two years later, requiring psychological support.
Her body image issues have worsened, and she now takes anti-depressants, becoming highly suspicious during bathroom visits.
The offences took place between December 2013 and November 2014.
Clough operated the business alongside his brothers, Christopher and Stewart, who are trained optometrists.
They took over Cloughs Opticians in the 1990s after their father, Norman Clough, who founded the practice in 1951, retired.
Norman Clough passed away last year at the age of 89 in a nursing home in Lytham St Annes.
Recently, the General Optical Council’s fitness to practice committee imposed an 18-month interim ban on Clough’s ability to work as an optician.
Defense lawyer Colin Buckle stated that Clough’s guilty plea was an act of bravery, acknowledging the disgrace awaiting him.
Buckle also described Clough as sexually immature, having never entered a long-term relationship, and seeking inappropriate substitutes for intimacy, which he characterized as among the worst possible.
During sentencing, Clough was visibly emotional, wiping away tears as Judge Timothy Clayson pronounced his sentence.
The judge emphasized the gravity of the breach, highlighting the violation of women’s privacy and the psychological damage inflicted.
He noted that Clough’s intelligence made him aware of the profound impact of his actions.
The court also issued a sexual harm prevention order to prevent future offences.
