PENSIONER PATRICK HONEYWELL OF HOPTON SENTENCED IN GREAT YARMOUTH FOR VOYEURISM

In March 2019, Patrick Honeywell, a 71-year-old resident of Hopton Gardens, Hopton, was convicted of multiple voyeurism offenses. He had set up cameras in a 16-year-old girl’s bedroom with the intent to see her undress, explaining he "wanted to see a young girl naked." Honeywell also installed cameras in another woman's bedroom and bathroom, where he watched her bathing.

Honeywell admitted to three counts of voyeurism when he appeared at Great Yarmouth Magistrates’ Court on March 6. The authorities recovered devices from homes in Basildon, Essex, and after the devices' analysis, Honeywell sent a text message to the girl admitting he had been a “bad boy.”

Prosecutor Stacie Cossey stated, "There were no indecent images found, but she went to school and told someone, and they contacted the police. Images recovered from the device included fully naked photographs of the woman in the bath." Honeywell claimed he wanted to see her getting undressed but insisted it was "not sexual."

The court heard that Honeywell planned these acts over a period between April 23, 2017, and May 11, 2017, with specific offenses occurring on May 1 and May 11, 2017. The girl was described as vulnerable, and the case involved significant planning.

A pre-sentence probation report revealed that Honeywell "wanted to see a young girl naked," but he is now impotent following surgery for prostate cancer. Defense lawyer Mark Hague emphasized that Honeywell has no prior convictions or cautions, and clarified that no images were published, having been deleted except for those recovered.

Hague added, "This is an unfortunate situation which has been ongoing for two years, causing him immense stress and strain. He’s in the later years of his life, in poor health, and not someone likely to reoffend."

Honeywell received a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with a two-year community order. The order involves one-to-one supervision with a probation officer and 40 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement. He was also ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £115. Additionally, a sexual harm prevention order was imposed as part of his sentence.