A VOYEUR who hid a camera in a toilet to film a teenage girl he then later went on to sexually assault has been spared an immediate jail sentence.
Robert Sandalls, 65, from Chepstow Road, Newport, had concealed recording equipment to spy on his victim, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
He was sentenced to a total of 27 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and a three-year community order.
Sandalls was also placed on the sex offenders register for five years and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.
Judge Jeremy Jenkins also sentenced him to undergo the Horizon sex offender treatment programme, pay a £140 victim surcharge and ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the recording equipment.
Last month, the defendant had been due to stand trial at Cardiff Crown Court, charged with two counts of voyeurism and one charge each of sexual assault and making indecent photographs.
But before a jury was sworn in, Sandalls admitted one charge of voyeurism, committed last year, and the single count of sexual assault, which also occurred last year.
His guilty pleas were accepted by prosecutor James Evans.
The court heard that pursuing a trial on the other two counts was “not in the public interest”.
At that hearing, Nicholas Gedge, representing Sandalls, had said: “The defendant is in poor health and his antecedent history is of some length.”
The most recent of his convictions, his counsel said, was a three-month prison sentence in 2015 for perverting the course of justice.
But, Mr Gedge added, referring to Sandall’s criminal past, he had “nothing of this nature” amongst his previous offending.
His barrister said his client, who came to court with the aid of a walking stick, had a toe amputated.
Judge Jenkins said to Sandalls: “You have pleaded guilty to serious matters.”
He told the defendant that his guilty pleas, even though entered late in the day, had at least saved his victim the “embarrassment” of having to give evidence at a trial.
