Dewsbury paedophile jailed for secretly filming teenage girl in bathroom

Scott Barker hid a phone in a cupboard in a bathroom cupboard and left it to record.

Barker, 34, of Partridge Crescent, Dewsbury, pleaded guilty to two counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, two counts of voyeurism and six other sex offences.

Rupert Doswell, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court how Barker filmed the victim on multiple occasions.

The first time she noticed the phone she stopped the recording and put the phone back where she found it, thinking it must have been someone playing a joke.

On the second occasion, she took a photo of the phone before leaving it in the cabinet so it looked like she had not seen it.

The offences came to light when the teenager reported the offending after realising that the defendant had indecent images of her.

She told police: "I was shocked and it just made me feel sick because I thought, 'How many other times has he done that?'"

In a statement, the teenager said: "Now I fear men and I can't trust anyone anymore."

She added: "I know he feels no remorse for the pain he has caused me."

The teenager said she felt 'disgusting, dirty and used' and suffered from nightmares.

Gillian Batts, mitigating, said Barker has no previous convictions and hoped to receive help to address his offending behaviour.

Ms Batts said Barker still has the support of his parents who are aware of his offending.

Sentencing, Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said: "These were no spur of the moment offences. They were planned with some forethought."

Barker was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim.

After the case, Detective Constable Suzanne Clark, of Kirklees District Child Safeguarding Unit, said: “We welcome the custodial sentence imposed on Barker by the court today for a series of sexual offences committed against a female child.

“A substantial case had been built up against Barker and I am pleased his guilty plea spared his victim the ordeal of having to go through a trial. I want to commend the bravery of the victim in coming forward to report this dangerous and predatory man to allow the police and CPS to take action against him.”

She added: “All such offences are investigated thoroughly and with the utmost sensitivity, ensuring the victim’s needs are at the heart of these investigations.

“We always encourage victims to come forward and report offences to us so we can help them seek justice & support and also take sexual offenders such as Scott Barker off our streets.”