Kurtis Mawson filmed a young girl in Durham toilets

Kurtis Mawson was spotted by the child’s mother when he put his arm over the top of the cubicle to film the girl in Durham.

The 23-year-old was also in breach of a sexual harm prevention order imposed after he was convicted of performing a sex act on himself as he stood behind a tourist in Durham.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the defendant had been recalled on licence following his arrest on June 21 last year where he filmed the young girl.

Kathryn Wetherley, prosecuting, said the mother alerted her husband to what had happened and they managed to ensure that Mawson was unable to leave the Riverwalk area until police arrived.

Mawson, of no fixed abode but formerly of Willington, pleaded guilty to voyeurism and breaching his sexual harm prevention order which was imposed in March 2024.

Brian Mark, mitigating, said his client had been remanded in custody since his arrest and had been recalled on licence following his previous offence.

He said Mawson had been homeless and living in a tent at the time of his arrest.

Judge Amanda Rippon sentenced the defendant to a total of 16 months for both offences.

She said: “There is no victim personal statement in this case but it will upset the mother and daughter enormously.

“It will have put considerable worry on them whenever they use public toilets again. It makes it very upsetting for anyone who finds themselves in this situation.

“This little girl will have known what was going on, she will have understood what you were doing and I don’t have the slightest doubt that they will be worried about using public toilets in the future.”

Mawson was issued with an undated ten-year SHPO by the judge.

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In 2024, The Northern Echo reported how Mawson was arrested after he stood behind a female tourist and performed a sex act as she was taking pictures of Durham Cathedral.

The woman heard him approaching but did not turn around as she assumed he was also taking pictures of the cathedral.

Shortly afterwards she realised she had been sexually assaulted, leaving DNA evidence on her skirt.

A judge imposed a total sentence of 25 months’ imprisonment and made Mawson subject to future restrictions under the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.