Teh One Who Knocks
02-23-2016, 12:40 PM
By Neil Docking - The Mirror
http://i.imgur.com/lRqeBaC.jpg
A teacher at a top grammar school used a hidden camera to spy on a teenage girl in the shower.
Head of sciene Michael Smith taught at St Anselm’s College, a grammar school for boys in Wirral, Merseyside.
A court heard how the 53-year-old secretly deployed two cameras to film his victim washing and being intimate with her boyfriend, the Liverpool Echo reported .
Jailing Smith for 12 months, Judge Robert Warnock said: “It is a sad fact that your rational and intellectual powers were not matched by your understanding or insight into the emotions and needs of others, compared to your own selfish desire for sexual gratification.”
Liverpool Crown Court heard the girl discovered the first camera, which contained footage of her showering, last year.
Neville Biddle, prosecuting, said she confronted Smith, who made a “spurious excuse”, and persuaded his embarrassed victim not to make a complaint.
However, the girl then found another hidden camera - this time in the shape of a pen - which Smith used to film her and her boyfriend.
When challenged again the pervert fled to North Wales, claiming that he intended to commit suicide.
Smith, of Grosvenor Road, Claughton, suggested there had been a mistake when he was arrested by police.
Officers recovered his computer and recording equipment including 22 videos.
Hours of footage included one Category B - the second most serious category - and 21 Category C indecent clips.
Smith admitted two counts of voyeurism and two counts of making indecent videos of children. He has no previous convictions.
The girl cried in court as Mr Biddle recalled how she felt “sick to the stomach” and could not sleep after the ordeal.
She said she believed Smith was a “weirdo” adding: “He’s a monster deserving to be punished.”
The girl suffered panic attacks and said her confidence was “shot to bits”.
The victim added: “He is a disgusting and vile creature that has ruined my childhood.”
Her mum said the offences were “earth-shatteringly horrific and completely repulsive”.
The girl’s boyfriend’s mum said her son was left angry and upset and watching him break down in tears was “heart-wrenching”.
Trevor Parry-Jones, defending, said his client had intended to commit suicide but was arrested by police.
He said Smith knew the pain and suffering he had caused and was “terribly, terribly sorry”.
Mr Parry-Jones said Smith could not explain his actions, but was dealing with personal problems, including the loss of his son, which led to a “downward spiral”.
Divorcee Smith previously told the Echo he was left devastated after Chris Smith, 17, from Wallasey, died from a nut allergy in 2011.
Mr Parry-Jones said Smith resigned from the school and knew he would never work as a teacher again.
He said: “His own actions have effectively destroyed his life.”
Judge Warnock told Smith to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and gave him a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Ian Mackenzie said: “I’m appalled that someone would engage in this type of behaviour. This enquiry has been difficult because of the despicable nature of the offences.”
http://i.imgur.com/lRqeBaC.jpg
A teacher at a top grammar school used a hidden camera to spy on a teenage girl in the shower.
Head of sciene Michael Smith taught at St Anselm’s College, a grammar school for boys in Wirral, Merseyside.
A court heard how the 53-year-old secretly deployed two cameras to film his victim washing and being intimate with her boyfriend, the Liverpool Echo reported .
Jailing Smith for 12 months, Judge Robert Warnock said: “It is a sad fact that your rational and intellectual powers were not matched by your understanding or insight into the emotions and needs of others, compared to your own selfish desire for sexual gratification.”
Liverpool Crown Court heard the girl discovered the first camera, which contained footage of her showering, last year.
Neville Biddle, prosecuting, said she confronted Smith, who made a “spurious excuse”, and persuaded his embarrassed victim not to make a complaint.
However, the girl then found another hidden camera - this time in the shape of a pen - which Smith used to film her and her boyfriend.
When challenged again the pervert fled to North Wales, claiming that he intended to commit suicide.
Smith, of Grosvenor Road, Claughton, suggested there had been a mistake when he was arrested by police.
Officers recovered his computer and recording equipment including 22 videos.
Hours of footage included one Category B - the second most serious category - and 21 Category C indecent clips.
Smith admitted two counts of voyeurism and two counts of making indecent videos of children. He has no previous convictions.
The girl cried in court as Mr Biddle recalled how she felt “sick to the stomach” and could not sleep after the ordeal.
She said she believed Smith was a “weirdo” adding: “He’s a monster deserving to be punished.”
The girl suffered panic attacks and said her confidence was “shot to bits”.
The victim added: “He is a disgusting and vile creature that has ruined my childhood.”
Her mum said the offences were “earth-shatteringly horrific and completely repulsive”.
The girl’s boyfriend’s mum said her son was left angry and upset and watching him break down in tears was “heart-wrenching”.
Trevor Parry-Jones, defending, said his client had intended to commit suicide but was arrested by police.
He said Smith knew the pain and suffering he had caused and was “terribly, terribly sorry”.
Mr Parry-Jones said Smith could not explain his actions, but was dealing with personal problems, including the loss of his son, which led to a “downward spiral”.
Divorcee Smith previously told the Echo he was left devastated after Chris Smith, 17, from Wallasey, died from a nut allergy in 2011.
Mr Parry-Jones said Smith resigned from the school and knew he would never work as a teacher again.
He said: “His own actions have effectively destroyed his life.”
Judge Warnock told Smith to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and gave him a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Ian Mackenzie said: “I’m appalled that someone would engage in this type of behaviour. This enquiry has been difficult because of the despicable nature of the offences.”