STEVEN AITCHISON BANNED FROM BLANTYRE AFTER SHOWER CAMERA SCANDAL IN MOTHERWELL

In July 2019, a disturbing case of voyeurism culminated in the imprisonment of Steven Aitchison, a man from Blantyre, who had secretly recorded a woman in the shower at her home in Motherwell. The incident involved the covert placement of a camera within a bathroom, capturing the woman, who was in her twenties, during her private moments.

On Thursday, July 4, Aitchison, aged 52, was sentenced to 14 months in prison by Hamilton Sheriff Court. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years. The court was informed that investigators discovered over 200 video clips of the woman in the shower on his computers, highlighting the extent of his illicit activity.

Aitchison, who resides on Berriedale Path in Blantyre, pleaded guilty to filming the woman at a residence in Motherwell between September 2015 and September of the following year. Sheriff Douglas Brown emphasized the gravity of the offense, stating, “This is very serious not just because of the nature of the offence, but because it involved a deliberate plan and repeated offending over a period of three years. There is no realistic alternative to a custodial sentence. Twenty months is an appropriate sentence, but I’ll reduce that to 14 because of your guilty plea.”

Prosecutor Paula Russell revealed that the discovery of the camera was made by another individual who found it hidden inside a toilet bag. She explained, “The bag was on a cabinet, and this person noticed three small holes on the front. When they looked inside, they saw a small video camera secured with Blu Tack, with the lens facing through a hole. The camera was no longer in the bag the next day. A search was conducted, and it was found in a drawer.”

Ms. Russell further stated that Aitchison was confronted about the camera and admitted to filming the woman “for a wee while.” He claimed it was a compulsive behavior but insisted, “There’s no harm in anything like that.” However, during police interviews, he later remarked that being caught was “a weight off my mind.”

The court heard that Aitchison, a father of two, was in a position to pay compensation of up to £8,000 to the victim. His solicitor argued that this financial redress was appropriate, especially since the woman, in her victim impact statement, detailed how she had suffered financial losses as a result of the incident. Despite this, Sheriff Brown rejected the plea for an alternative to imprisonment, underscoring the seriousness of the crime and the need for a custodial sentence.