Spy camera hotelier jailed for six months

2:05am Friday 4th July 2008

A HOTEL manager who placed a camera in a guest bedroom to watch a couple having sex has been jailed for six months.

Clarence Birkbeck, who admitted to having a healthy fascination with sex, placed the camera between wardrobes to focus on a guest bed.

The camera was then linked to his bedroom at the Kastle Court Guest House, in Newcomen Terrace, Redcar, east Cleveland.

Birkbeck, who denied a charge of voyeurism, was convicted by magistrates after a trial in May, and warned he could be jailed.

Magistrates yesterday jailed Birkbeck for six months and ordered him to be placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for seven years.

Chairwoman Maureen Rider said: "The case is so serious only a custodial sentence is appropriate."

During the trial, the 67-year-old admitted placing the device in one of the bedrooms.

However, he said it was only to see if the couple were taking drugs.

The court heard how a distressed couple called police on December 1, last year, after they found the camera.

Officers found a TV in Birkbeck's bedroom, which was directly below the room in question.

The couple, who cannot be named to protect their identity, decided to stay at the guesthouse for some privacy. They had stayed in the same room the previous week.

Birkbeck said in his defence that he heard banging and scraping noises the first time the couple stayed, and wanted to investigate what they were doing. Police seized "quite an extensive collection" of pornographic DVDs and sex toys during a search of the guest house.

There was no suggestion Birkbeck recorded activities in the room.

Lorraine Cooper, prosecuting, said the incident at the guest house had caused problems with the couple's relationship. She said: "The woman felt raped by the thought that he could be having a sexual kick from watching them.

"She is totally upset and humiliated."

Birkbeck said he watched only ten minutes of the live link because he said he heard the couple say something he believed indicated they were smoking marijuana.

He said he never saw them having sex.

The couple have never been suspected by police of taking drugs.

Paul Dixon, in mitigation, said Birkbeck was well-known and well respected in the community, and was a man of good character.

He said: "He is very remorseful in relation to his actions. He does not accept a sexual motive."

Mr Dixon said Birkbeck intended to appeal.

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