A Swindon man who secretly took photos of naked woman has been spared jail.
35-year-old Gareth Puzey appeared at Swindon Crown Court on 13 January, where he was handed a community order for the offence of voyeurism.
The offence took place between December 2023 and March 2024. The victim was known to Puzey.
The court heard that he took photographs of the victim while she was naked, without her knowledge or consent. The images were later found on his mobile phone.
The images were discovered while officers were carrying out enquiries into an allegation of rape. Puzey was found not guilty of that offence following a trial.
An impact statement from the victim was read out in court.
She said: “I knew nothing about these photographs and had to see them for the first time on a screen in a court room in front of a room full of people I did not know.
“I felt violated when I found out about these images; it was a complete breach of my privacy.
“I feel disturbed knowing these had been taken without my knowledge and it makes me anxious to think about what else he could have done or other photos he could have taken.
“I now sometimes struggle as I always feel like I am still being watched.”
Detective Constable Ashleigh Moran said: “Puzey took photos of his victim whilst she was fully naked without her consent or knowledge, in a place she should have felt safe.
“He knew she had low self-esteem, and his selfish actions have only exacerbated these feelings.
“I hope that now this court case has come to a close, that the victim is able to feel some sense of closure and move on with rebuilding her life.”
Puzey, of Colchester Close in Toothill, was given a two year community order with conditions. He will also remain on the sex offenders register for five years.
