Landlord fined for secret camera in tenant bedrooms

Landlord Paul Dunster was found guilty of voyeurism, after Portsmouth Crown Court heard how he had set up secret cameras in his tenants’ rooms and bathrooms, so that he could secretly record this showering and having sex.

The court heard how Dunster – who owned seven properties – had two memory cards stored at his home, containing the videos taken from the rental properties. The first memory card contained videos showing private sexual encounters taking place in the bedroom, and the second card showed women having baths and showers in the bathroom. None of the parties in the videos were aware that they were being filmed. In total, it is believed that Dunster made 183 videos over a ten-year period, all of which were created to satisfy the former security workers ‘sexual needs’.

Although initially denying the charge, Dunster did admit to the offences, and was fined £5,000, plus £500 in legal costs, 100 hours of unpaid work, and given 20 rehabilitation days given the nature of the case. He was spared jail, despite the fact that voyeurism, a relatively new offence under the Sexual Offences act 2003, can carry a maximum sentence of two years.