November 2017

Voyeur Ryan Hoggart hid phone in bathroom to spy on woman

A mother was left feeling sick after a pervert tried to film her on his mobile phone that had been propped up against a toilet.

Ryan Hoggart narrowly avoided a prison sentence after magistrates heard he had been trusted to look after her children as their mother prepared to take a shower.

The 25-year-old, of Church Street, Tovil, asked to use the toilet and set his phone to record.

Hoggart later bombarded the woman with 87 text messages and 49 phone calls.

During a hearing at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court Julie Fairbrass, prosecuting, said Hoggart had also breached a restraining order by turning up to the address uninvited.

She said: “On October 4 at about 4pm Mr Hoggart attended the victim’s address.

“Whilst present he agreed to look after her children while she went for a shower. He said he wanted to use the toilet first and she noticed he had been some time.

“She noticed his phone was propped up by the toilet on the floor.

“She noticed the phone was recording and facing the shower. She said she panicked and left the property to go next door.”

Hoggart, of Church Street, admitted one count of voyeurism but his lawyer told the court the former London Mining Company employee had no intention of using the footage to blackmail his victim or distribute it. A statement by Hoggart’s victim said she now feels “paranoid” and checks for other cameras.

Hoggart was handed a 162-day prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay £265 in costs.

Chairman of the bench Alan Golding said: “We spent a long time discussing your sentence and it was touch and go. We are going to give you one last chance.”