Description
A PERVERT who filmed videos of naked women in the changing room cubicles at a leisure centre has been jailed.
Richard Halck, formerly of Winsford, was caught on August 22, 2023, filming one of his victims on his mobile phone.
The woman, at Winsford Lifestyle Centre, calmly got dressed before alerting staff to the 38-year-old's offence.
She also asked a member of the public to prevent Halck, now of Landor Way, Stafford, from leaving before police arrived.
Halck was arrested before his phone was seized and analysed, revealing several other videos of women filmed without their knowledge.
The videos were all filmed between July 7, 2022, and August 22, 2023, at various locations across Winsford.
Police officers were able to identify three of the victims, however a number of others have never been identified.
Halck was charged with eight counts of voyeurism, which he pleaded guilty to at Chester Magistrates Court on March 25.
After the lower court decided it did not have the necessary sentencing powers, the case was sent to Chester Crown Court.
Halck appeared at the crown court on Thursday, April 24, where His Honour Judge Simon Berkson jailed him for 55 weeks.
Judge Berkson also ordered Halck to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years, as well as handing him a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and restraining order to prevent him contacting his victims.
Detective Constable Sarah Ollier, who led the investigation for Cheshire Police, said: "Firstly, I would like to praise the courage of the victims in this case.
"To discover that someone has filmed you without your consent must have been terrifying, but thanks to their bravery he has now been held accountable.
"Halck’s actions have had a lasting impact on his victims, who were simply going about their daily business.
"He violated his victims’ personal space and privacy, filming them without their consent in places that they should be able to feel safe.
"This result reinforces our commitment to tackling violence against women and girls, we will prevent, deter and take action against anyone who preys on women and girls."