STALKING VICTIM USED HIDDEN CAMERA TO FILM NAKED SEX PEST
Paul Austin has admitted to stalking and harassing a woman, including undressing and exposing himself in her bedroom, and tampering with her personal belongings.Austin, aged 60, of Riverdale Close in Seaton, also pleaded guilty to criminal damage after damaging her duvet between 6 and 9 July last year at her home in Axminster.
Exeter Magistrates’ Court heard that Austin had been carrying out some work for the victim, a woman he had known since their school days.
He had access to a spare key, which allowed him to enter the property while she was out.
Prosecutor Phil Sewell explained that Austin had expressed a desire for a romantic relationship after learning her marriage had ended, but she made it clear she was not interested.
Despite this, Austin began monitoring her private life via her social media accounts, prompting the woman to tighten her privacy settings.
Mr Sewell told the court that the woman began to notice items vanishing from her bedroom.
On one occasion, after completing some gardening for her, Austin used her shower—an action she said left her feeling “uncomfortable.” To determine if anyone had been going through her things, she placed small items, such as hair bands, across the drawers.
When they were found disturbed, she suspected someone had been rifling through her belongings.
The woman eventually installed a camera in her bedroom.
Footage captured Austin removing a sex toy from a drawer and using it on himself.
On a separate occasion, he was filmed stripping naked, crawling across her bed, and again using the sex toy.
The police were contacted, and forensic analysis confirmed his DNA on the duvet.
During police interviews, Austin declined to comment.
In her victim impact statement, the woman said she now planned to change the locks to her home.
She added: “I should have seen the red flags.
He was trying to wriggle his way into my family.
He has taken advantage of my hospitality and trust.
He was trying to act like my husband.” Defence solicitor Peter Woodley said Austin accepted responsibility for his behaviour but did not wish to “air dirty linen in public” or say anything that could harm the complainant’s reputation.
Austin was handed a 12-month community order, which includes 30 days of rehabilitation activity.
He was also ordered to pay £50 in compensation to the victim, along with £330 in court costs and fines.
A one-year restraining order was imposed, preventing him from contacting the woman.
