A POLICE officer who recorded women washing and showering in a bathroom with a digital camera concealed in a toiletries bag has been spared jail.

"Secret pervert" Andrew Price left the tiny USB device in the black bag on a window seal to capture women in what a judge described as a "wicked" act, a court heard yesterday.

One video showed an 18-year-old woman brushing her teeth, while another captured another woman washing her hands, the court heard.

A third video recorded a woman taking a shower for more than seven minutes.

The clip examined by police showed "full frontal" images of the woman naked besides a towel wrapped round her head, Newport Crown Court heard.

Price pleaded guilty to one charge of voyeurism and a further count of attempted voyeurism at a property in Caldicot.

A police investigation later revealed he had searched pornography online and search terms indicated he had an interest in "young girls", prosecutor Hywel Hughes told the court.

The 52-year-old, of Bettws, Newtown, Powys, will have to sign on the Sex Offenders' register for seven years.

Price had spent 13 years serving the community in the police, the court heard.

The former Dyfed Powys officer has lost his job, his car and is in the process of losing his home as a result of the "transient act of stupidity", the court was told.

Judge Patrick Harrington gave him six-month jail terms for each offence to be served concurrently and suspended them for 18 months.

He also ordered Price to complete 200 hours unpaid work.

Judge Harrington told him: "You had everything going for you and it's all gone, and your punishment is your shame."

Judge Harrington said Price now faced being described as a "secret pervert".

He added: "This was a wicked thing to do as well as a stupid one."

Tim Naylor, for the defence, said his client had expressed the "deepest remorse" and apologised to the women affected by the voyeurism.

Mr Naylor admitted there was an "element of planning" in his behaviour but stressed there was no evidence Price had intended to distribute or circulate the videos online.

He added that his client accepted the shame he had brought on himself and described the voyeurism as a "shameful act" displaying "incredible stupidity".

Judge Harrington also asked Price to pay an £80 surcharge and ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the recording device.

Price concealed his face with a hoodie as he left Newport Crown Court after the sentencing hearing.