Craig West 63

Description

Stepfather Jailed for Secretly Filming Stepdaughter in Shower as Victim Speaks Out to Encourage Others

A 63-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for covertly recording his stepdaughter in the shower, prompting the victim to waive her anonymity and share her story to support others affected by sexual offenses.

Megan Ervin, 32, spoke exclusively about the ordeal after Craig West, whom she had viewed as a father figure, was jailed for voyeurism at Maidstone Crown Court.

The court heard that West hid a spy-pen camera in a toothbrush holder at the family home in Sheerness, actively encouraging Megan to take a shower during her visit on March 13, 2020.

Megan, who had arrived at the home following a relationship breakdown, initially declined but later agreed after waking from a nap. While showering, she noticed a flashing light and discovered the device, which contained a memory card.

Quickly taking photos of the pen as evidence, Megan alerted her family. When confronted, West initially denied knowledge but later admitted to the act, even alluding to plans to sell the footage.

Police investigations revealed an additional recording on West's laptop, showing another woman using the toilet in his caravan, filmed approximately two years earlier.

West, a former lorry driver now working as a vending machine delivery driver and residing in St Georges Avenue, Eastchurch, pleaded guilty to two counts of voyeurism and two counts of observing a private act for sexual gratification.

During pre-sentencing reports, West claimed the acts were motivated by "hate and spite" rather than sexual intent and denied planning to record the second woman, saying the camera was set up to catch his wife's alleged lover.

He urged family members not to involve the police, insisting he did not deserve prison. His defense argued for a suspended sentence, citing his guilty plea, lack of prior relevant convictions, potential for rehabilitation, and a five-year delay in the case.

However, Recorder Vivian Walters rejected this, imposing a six-month immediate custodial sentence on August 7, stating that only imprisonment was appropriate given the impact on the victims and lack of concrete evidence of rehabilitation.

Both victims attended the hearing and were emotional as the sentence was delivered. Megan's mother supported West, leading to a breakdown in her relationship with her daughter.

Prosecutor Stacey-Lee Holland detailed how West entered the bathroom under the pretense of brushing his teeth to hide the device before encouraging Megan to shower.

After the shower, West removed the pen, but Megan had already documented it. When challenged, he pretended to destroy the device but later retrieved it.

In victim impact statements, Megan described feeling "dirty" and violated, exacerbating her existing body confidence issues. She referred to West as a "sexual predator" and noted the "devastating impact" on her life, including a mental breakdown that led to her being sectioned.

The trauma caused suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and forced her to relocate her young family from Sheppey to avoid encounters with West.

The second victim expressed feeling "deceitful" treatment by West, leading to distress, antidepressant use, paranoia about hidden cameras, insomnia, and the installation of security cameras in her home.

The judge highlighted the planning involved, abuse of trust, and ongoing devastation to the victims' lives, noting West's letter to the court made no mention of remorse toward them.

West received an indefinite restraining order prohibiting contact with the victims and must register as a sex offender for seven years.

In a joint statement following the case, Megan and the second victim encouraged other survivors to come forward, emphasizing that help is available regardless of relationships involved.

They stated: We want them to know it doesnt matter who the perpetrators are to you or who stands by them. There is help and there are people who will listen and believe the truth. You absolutely can get some kind of justice even if thats just in a form of belief, sometimes being believed is what means the most.

They added: We hope that by speaking out, it shows these predators that it is not OK, it wont be tolerated and you will be caught. I have lost a relationship with my mother over this, and thats been hard but with that loss we have gained so much support and love within others. I no longer have to make my mother happy or keep a relationship with her. Despite the great impact this has had on our mental health, we are now finally free from this man and can rebuild our lives.