Jonpaul Elessar 38

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A voyeur who took a photograph of an unconscious and naked visitor to his home for "bragging rights" has been jailed.

The victim became stranded in South Shields without money and wearing shorts. Someone he suggested he go to Jonpaul Elessar's home to wait for a taxi, which he did. The court heard that when he got there, he asked Elessar to turn off cameras he had installed in his home because he didn't want to be recorded. Elessar gave the man a drink and said he took some drugs and ended up unconscious.

Sentencing Elessar at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Sarah Mallet said: "He has no recollection of anything else until he was woken by his partner. While unconscious and naked, you took an image of him.

"You were amused by what you had done and said he was drunk and had taken G[GHB] and you had performed a sex act on him."

The court heard the victim felt violated when he was in a vulnerable position. Judge Mallet said: "He was concerned you had taken other images while he was vulnerable.

"He said it was humiliating, shocking and disgusting. You have caused him significant emotional harm.

"You took and sent an image out of malice or spite - bragging rights, as you call it in the pre-sentence report."

Prosecutor Christopher Rose it is unclear if the victim ended up "completely naked" before of after he fell unconscious. The victim said he didn't know how he ended up in a state of undress.

Mr Rose said: "While prone on the defendant's sofa, naked and unconscious, the defendant took an image of him which he sent to another man."

When Elessar's phone was examined in relation to that offence, two indecent images of children aged between 12 and 16 were discovered.

The 38-year-old, of Norfolk Drive, Washington, who has a previous conviction from 2013 for possessing and distributing indecent images of children, pleaded guilty to voyeurism and possessing indecent images of children. He was jailed for 20 months and must sign the sex offenders register and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years. He was also given an indefinite restraining order.

Robin Turton, defending, said: "He shows good victim empathy and a good deal of remorse." He added: "His behaviour was unseemly and pretty grubby.

"It was a sly photograph taking, effectively, for bragging rights. It doesn't reflect well on him."

"There are good aspects to his character." Mr Turton said the two indecent images of children were in Elessar's trash bin on WhatsApp.