A man who pleaded guilty at Bath Magistrates’ Court to a charge of voyeurism has received an 18-week suspended jail sentence.
In February, Richard James, from Kilmersdon Road in Radstock, admitted the offence, which took place between 1st May and 9th June 2023.
He was remanded on unconditional bail so the Probation Service could prepare a pre-sentence report, and the magistrates made an interim Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) requiring him to register his details with the police within three days.
James, 43, was back in court for sentencing last Wednesday, 22nd April. Prosecutor Maree Doyle told the bench that the offence took place three years ago and there had been no recent behavioural concerns.
Defending James, solicitor Anthony Bignall said that since the incident, the defendant had gone out of his way to get help for his problems with amphetamine and cannabis, and had taken steps to address his offending behaviour.
Sentencing James, magistrates said they had taken into account his early guilty plea, obvious remorse and addiction problems.
They said the 18-week prison sentence would be suspended for 18 months as there is a “real chance of rehabilitation”.
James will be on the Sex Offender Register for seven years, and the SHPO will also run alongside it.
James was ordered to do 40 hours of unpaid work within 12 months and undertake 26 days on the Building Choices programme and up to 10 rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days.
He must also pay prosecution costs of £85 and a court surcharge of £154.
