Aspiring model, 26, hid a spy camera under a towel in a tanning booth to film naked woman
James Bettles, 26, filmed a woman he had an 'unhealthy obsession' with after hiding a camera at a tanning salon
AN ASPIRING model who hid a spy camera under a towel at a tanning booth to film a naked woman has been jailed.
James Bettles, 26, placed the HD device under a towel and ripped a 'spy hole' into the material so he could get a good view of the woman undressing.
Bettles, who describes himself as a 'passionate singer/songwriter', had booked himself into the Glow tanning salon in Enfield Chase, north London, on October 28.
The victim attended her appointment at 2pm, but when Bettles came back to collect his camera, he found that it had been moved.
When he spoke to the manager, he was told police had been called. A search of his home address revealed a number of laptops and other devices, as well as a tablet stashed in the spare wheel of his car parked outside.
On the device, cops found Bettles had photoshopped a picture of the victim's face with his genitals next to her mouth.
The court heard Bettles admitted in police interview that he had installed a camera in the bathroom.
Prosecutor Mr Gill said: "The victim had attended the address and had used the toilet. She later said that on that occasion he had repeatedly asked her if she wanted to have a shower.
"He has an unhealthy obsession with her.
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"He admits making the picture for sexual gratification."
Bettles admitted two counts of voyeurism and one count of attempting to observe a person doing a private act at Highbury Magistrates' Court.
Jailing him for four weeks, Magistrate Greville Waterman said: "We cannot get away from the facts of the matter.
"These were pre-meditated offences, they were carefully planned and they were highly unpleasant.
"They were also psychologically very damaging to someone who you knew. It was a total breach of trust.
"We are certain that these offences are so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified."
In a statement read to the court, the victim - who cannot be named - said: "Since discovering what he's done I've been extremely stressed and shocked.
"I've been constantly going over in my head what else he could have done and when else he could have filmed me.
"I feel my privacy has been completely invaded."
Gero di Piazza, defending, said Bettles suffers from anxiety and depression and has been out of work for several years.
On an online music profile, he says he is looking for work as an actor, model, musician and photographer.
Mr di Piazza added: "He says it's the worst thing he's done in his life.
"It's taken him four lots of medication just to come to court because of his anxiety and depression.
"This is not a prolific offender, we are talking about one person with an infatuation with one other person."
As well as being jailed for four weeks, Bettles was also ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for five years and pay a £115 victim surcharge.
A Sexual Offences Prevention Order was also imposed, prohibiting Bettles from possessing any internet-enabled device without the capacity to retain internet history, from deleting the internet history of any device in his possession and from possessing any device capable of recording any still or moving images in a public place, other than a mobile phone.
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He is also prohibited from entering any beauty or tanning salon, with the exception of a barbers catering solely to male clients, for five years.
Bettles wept and held his head in his hands as the sentence was read out.
He then hugged his father and brother before being led away to the cells.
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