TONY BISHOP SHAMES TORQUAY MAN WHO SECRETLY FILMED TEENAGE STEP-DAUGHTER IN HER HOME

In a case that has shocked the community of Torquay, a 53-year-old man named Tony Bishop has been convicted of secretly filming his teenage stepdaughter in their family home. The incident, which took place in 2015, involved Bishop covertly recording the girl while she was in the bathroom, using a hidden GoPro camera concealed inside a box placed in a washing basket, and later in a bottle of shampoo that he had modified with a cut hole.

Following the discovery of the videos, which were found on Bishop’s iPad in a deleted files folder by his then-wife—who is also the mother of the victim—the authorities launched an investigation. The videos depicted the girl, who was over 18 at the time, in a state of undress, and Bishop admitted to two charges of voyeurism related to the incidents in April and May of 2015 in Torquay. Prosecutors revealed that Bishop had been inspired to film his stepdaughter after watching pornography, which led him to develop the idea of secretly capturing her in private moments for his own sexual gratification.

During the trial at Exeter Crown Court, the court heard that Bishop’s actions caused significant distress and feelings of vulnerability for the young woman. The court was informed that the victim and her mother have since been forced to relocate from their family home due to the trauma inflicted by Bishop’s actions. The judge, Recorder Martin Meeke QC, described the act as “a shocking thing to do to a girl who was part of your family,” emphasizing the betrayal and harm caused.

In sentencing, Bishop received a 15-week prison term, which was suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for seven years, pay court costs of £85, and a victim surcharge of £80. Additionally, he was mandated to complete a rehabilitation activity requirement. The court acknowledged Bishop’s remorse but also highlighted the severity of his misconduct.

Throughout the proceedings, the court was told that Bishop had denied sharing the videos with anyone else, but the impact on the victim was profound. Prosecutor Brian Fitzherbert stated that Bishop’s actions left the girl feeling distressed, unsafe, and vulnerable, and that her mother’s discovery of the videos was a pivotal moment leading to the case. The judge’s comments underscored the gravity of the betrayal, noting that Bishop’s conduct was “a shocking thing to do to a girl who was part of your family.”

Following the sentencing, the victim’s mother, who has since reverted to her maiden name, expressed her dissatisfaction with the leniency of the sentence. Adelle Hanson, the young woman involved, publicly waived her right to anonymity to speak out against Bishop, aiming to warn other women about his actions. She stated, “He should be named and shamed. I want to warn other women about him,” emphasizing her desire to prevent others from suffering similar experiences. Her decision to go public was driven by her feelings of distress and her hope to protect others from becoming victims of Bishop’s misconduct.