NIGEL ANTHONY SPYING SCANDAL IN ST NEOTS AND ROYSTON: FUNERAL DIRECTOR CAUGHT WITH HIDDEN CAMERA

In October 2013, Nigel Anthony, a funeral director from New Street, St Neots, found himself at the center of a disturbing voyeurism case that shocked the local community and raised serious concerns about privacy and trust.

Anthony, aged 43, pleaded guilty to three counts of voyeurism during a hearing at Cambridge Crown Court. The court was informed that he had installed a hidden camera in his bathroom, which he used to secretly record females without their knowledge. As a result of his guilty plea, he was sentenced to three months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for 18 months, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed further offenses within that period.

The investigation into Anthony’s actions was triggered after he moved out of his shared residence in Highlands, Royston, following his divorce from his wife. It was during this move that authorities discovered the concealed camera and the recordings it had captured. Prosecutor Stephen Mather explained that the camera was cleverly hidden within the end panel of the bathtub, making it difficult to detect. The device was connected via a wire leading to the loft space above the bathroom, where a video recorder and three tapes were found.

These tapes, which dated from 2006 to 2008, contained footage of two women using the bathroom, as well as a girl believed to be between 15 and 16 years old at the time. The recordings revealed a disturbing breach of privacy, with the camera capturing intimate moments without the victims’ consent.

When questioned by police, Nigel Anthony admitted to installing the camera approximately eight years prior, primarily for his own sexual gratification. He confessed to using the device around 12 times over a period of six or seven years, with the last recorded use occurring just before he vacated the property in September 2012.

Anthony is a father of two and works as an area manager for Lodge Brothers funeral directors, a company that owns Cecil Newling in Royston and T.L. Cobbold in St Neots. Notably, he had no previous criminal convictions. His defense lawyer, Phillippa Ellis, highlighted that Anthony was under significant emotional stress at the time, largely due to the breakdown of his marriage. She emphasized that he has since sought counseling and has taken responsibility for his actions, acknowledging the harm caused to the victims.

Judge Gareth Hawkesworth addressed the court, stating, “Though this is out of character, this was a deliberate act, and you must seek help over the next 18 months to ensure there aren’t more problems further down the line.” In addition to the suspended jail sentence, Anthony was ordered to pay costs of £150 and was required to sign the sex offenders register, reflecting the seriousness of his offenses and the need for ongoing monitoring.