A North Wales office worker who secretly filmed his colleagues using the toilet has been given a suspended prison sentence after blaming his actions on workplace bullying.
Secret camera discovered in cubicle
Andrew Cox, 38, from Acrefair near Wrexham, rigged a mobile phone in a staff toilet cubicle to record his fellow workers. The covert operation was uncovered in March 2024 when a suspicious colleague spotted the hidden device.
The staff member played back the recording and saw Cox himself placing the phone beneath a rag. The footage, which lasted nearly two hours, captured one man undoing his trousers and using the toilet on two separate occasions.
Shocking evidence found on devices
When police arrested Cox on his next day at work, they seized his electronic devices. Investigators found a substantial amount of video evidence related to the voyeurism offences.
They also discovered five extreme pornographic images depicting men and women engaged in sexual activity with animals. Cox later claimed this material had been shared with him by his manager and on a workplace WhatsApp group.
Court hears bullying defence
At Chester Magistrates’ Court, Cox pleaded guilty to two counts of voyeurism and one of possessing extreme pornography. He faced up to eighteen months in custody.
His defence solicitor, Joanne Black, argued that Cox had become "introverted" due to sustained bullying at work and during his school years. She told the court he was "mortified" by his actions and "terrified" of going to prison.
Black stated that Cox's behaviour had spiralled after he joined the firm in 2013, leading him to view inappropriate online content which developed into voyeurism. She claimed he felt relief when finally arrested.
Suspended sentence handed down
District Judge Ian Barnes acknowledged the seriousness of the "betrayal of trust" and the violation felt by Cox's colleagues. However, he decided against an immediate custodial sentence, believing targeted intervention in the community would better serve the public.
Cox received a 15-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, undertake 20 days of rehabilitation activity, and pay £454 in costs and a surcharge.
He must sign the Sex Offenders Register for seven years.
Judge Barnes told Cox he clearly had a "niche sexual interest" and had sought to create his own content rather than just viewing material online. The judge concluded that the sentence would allow Cox to address the root causes of his behaviour.
