A handyman who fitted a secret spy camera inside an Aberdeen family’s home for a month so he could get his sexual kicks was jailed for more than two years today.
Robert Lawson – who had been carrying out home improvements for the family – recorded more than 150 videos of the couple and their two children in various states of undress.
The 67-year-old – who was branded “disgusting and deplorable” in court – used the DIY work as cover so he could move the camera into different bedrooms around the house.
His traumatised victims say they no longer feel safe in their own home, Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard.
Fiscal depute Brian Young said Lawson’s sick crime was discovered when one of his victims spotted a “small black device” taped to her shoe stand and overlooking the area where she undresses.
“She immediately made her family aware and they discovered that it was a spy camera,” he said.
When they plugged the device into their laptop they were horrified to discover 10 videos – dated between January 21 2020 and February 14 2020 – of the female members of the family in various stages of undress.
When the family did a search of their home they discovered remnants of black electrical tape on other pieces of furniture, always close to mirrors or drawers and in areas where people would tend to get changed.
Police later carried out a full search of Lawson’s Bieldside home, where they found electrical tape and an SD memory card containing 156 covertly-recorded videos, created over the space of a month.
“These videos captured images of the family in various states of undress including completely naked,” the fiscal added.
“Also recovered from the camera was a deleted video which showed the accused holding the camera and positioning it within one of the bedrooms.”
Obtained sexual gratification
Lawson’s defence agent Mark Stewart QC claimed the camera was bought so he could catch the family bad-mouthing him.
Mr Stewart said: “He was, at the time, going through great difficulties with his employment and had lost a number of jobs through no fault of his own.
“He ultimately was doing handyman duties around this property. He was of a view, rightly or wrongly, that his efforts were being diminished and he was not being treated in a way which he felt was appropriate.
“He felt there was a probability things were being said about him. Whether he was being paranoid or not, he purchased the device.
“He initially thought it was a voice-activated recorder but became aware it was capable of capturing video.”
Mr Stewart added that although it was not Lawson’s “initial motivation” he did “obtain sexual gratification from viewing” some of the material.
“He is a man who has largely been ruined by these events,” he added.
Lawson admitted a charge of voyeurism by operating equipment with the intention of observing others without their consent.
‘Disgusting and deplorable’
Sheriff William Summers told Lawson he had abused the trust of the family in question and that his actions were “calculated” in that he’d purposely bought and installed the camera.
“Is it of concern that you appear to take limited responsibility for your actions and that you seek to minimise what you did,” he said.
“This was a grave offence. You were allowed access to this family’s home and you were allowed to work unsupervised in the home. You abused the trust afforded to you.
“Your behaviour was disgusting and deplorable.”
He added that a victim statement from the family involved said they no longer felt safe in their own home.
“That is perhaps not surprising given your gross breach of trust,” the sheriff added.
He jailed Lawson, whose address was given in court as Millside Terrace, Peterculter, for 28 months and placed him on the Sex Offenders Register for the next decade.
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