Locations
Maidstone Road, Charing, Ashford, TN27
Description
Recording devices including sunglasses with a built-in camera were amongst the evidence secured by Kent Police officers that led to the conviction of a sex offender from Ashford.
John Gilliver, of Maidstone Road, Charing, admitted multiple offences including voyeurism before being sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday 11 July 2024.
Devices seized
On Sunday 10 July 2022, officers were called to Folkestone Harbour and arrested Gilliver, 62, after he was seen behaving suspiciously and taking photographs on the beach that afternoon.
A pair of sunglasses and a neck chain, capable of recording and storing images, were seized and a search of Gilliver’s home in Charing led to further devices and recording equipment being recovered.
Data downloaded from the devices were found to include indecent images including of children.
The investigation by Kent Police detectives uncovered further offences of voyeurism. Gilliver was found to have secretly installed cameras at the home of a man and a woman he knew, in order to spy on them for purposes of his own gratification.
Gilliver was later charged and pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children, voyeurism and possessing an indecent image. He was jailed for a year and eight months and was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.