Peeping Tom who targeted young women in Bath is spared jail

A Peeping Tom who used his mobile phone to record naked young women in changing rooms in Bath for his sexual gratification has avoided a jail sentence.

Thomas Edwards leaving Bristol Crown Court | Photo © Bath Echo

A forensic analysis by police of images and videos on Thomas Edwards’ phone found he had recorded 32 females in total, believed to be aged between 16 and 18.

Six were in changing rooms, while other recordings were in public and over clothing.

The identity of only one of his victims is known – a 16-year-old who realised she was being recorded under a cubicle at the swimming pool at the University of Bath in October 2022.

At 39-year-old Edwards’ sentencing at Bristol Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 21st August) His Honour Judge Hart said the other victims “do not know and will not know”.

Edwards, of St Catherines Close, Bathwick, had pleaded guilty at Bath Magistrates’ Court last month to six charges of voyeurism. The offences all took place in Bath in 2022 – on 6th February, 29th May, 31st May, 4th June, 2nd October and 23rd October.

Edwards had been on unconditional bail while awaiting sentence at Bristol Crown Court.

Yesterday, prosecutor Christine Hart told Court 10 that after the young woman realised someone was filming her on 23rd October while she was in a state of undress, Edwards was detained by security guards at the pool.

He had voluntarily provided his phone and PIN and voluntarily gave an interview to police on 1st November 2022, rather than being arrested. In a prepared statement, Edwards fully admitted that the images were for his sexual gratification and that there were other recordings.

The prosecutor read out a powerful statement from the victim, who was in the public gallery to hear the sentence. Given in October 2024, it detailed the devastating impact the incident has had on her.

She spoke of “flashbacks” and how she gets panic attacks a couple of times a week that affect her whole body. A couple of times a month she suffers “really bad ones” when she curls into a ball and can’t move.

She gets chronic headaches and nightmares and is so exhausted she has to nap three times a day. She also has to spend money on medication to try to ease her symptoms.

She said she feels “vulnerable and scared” and cannot even look at a cubicle.  She doesn’t wear skirts or dresses any more.

Now studying at university, the young woman said the incident has affected her studies and fears the trauma will stay with her “for life”.

Judge Hart praised her for her bravery and public-spirited action. He said she could take some solace that, despite the “extremely unpleasant nature” of the crime, Edwards had not shared the footage and there is no chance of that ever happening as his phone was taken away.

The judge told Edwards that his offending had caused “shock and dismay” to his “respectable family”.

The image of someone committing such crimes is “a grubby, rather hopeless little man with very little social interaction” and that is the picture people would now have of Edwards, he told him.

He said Edwards has “a considerable cross to bear” but had recognised his “significant character flaw”. Judge Hart gave him credit for taking steps to rehabilitate himself over the last two and a half years, including having private therapy.

The judge said the Probation Service would give him further support and doubted that Edwards would ever come before a court again for anything.

He added that he hopes Edwards could “earn back the trust and support of those who know and love you”.

Edwards was given an 18-month community order. He must do 120 hours of unpaid work over 12 months and complete up to 25 rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days with the Probation Service.

As a sex offender, Edwards will be on a barred list for five years.

He was ordered to pay his victim £2,000 compensation within six months.

Edwards was dressed in a shirt and trousers for his court appearance.  After his sentencing, however he changed into casual clothes, a cap and trainers before darting out of the building and running down Small Street.

He covered his face with the suitcase he had taken into court with him in anticipation of a possible custodial sentence.