July 2023: Joseph Casey, of Arncliffe Gardens, off Park Road, Hartlepool, was handed a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

Casey must complete 30 rehabilitation days, 150 hours of unpaid work and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He also must sign the Sex Offenders’ Register.

June 2023

Voyeur, 45, pleads guilty to recording person’s private act for his sexual pleasure

A voyeur has admitted secretly filming others for sexual gratification.

Joseph Casey, from Hartlepool, appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with three counts of voyeurism. The offences took place in Middlesbrough last year and the allegations were read out to justices.

Two of the charges state: “At Middlesbrough recorded another person doing a private act with the intention that you would, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, look at an image of that other person doing the act, knowing that the other person did not consent to your recording the act with that intention. Contrary to section 67(3) and (5) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.”

A third voyeurism charge reads: “At Middlesbrough installed equipment with the intention of enabling for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, to observe another person doing a private act, knowing that person did not consent to being observed for your sexual gratification.”

During the short hearing, the Arncliffe Gardens resident confirmed his identity and entered guilty pleas to the charges. The 45-year-old was told due to the severity of the offences the case must be transferred to Teesside Crown Court.

Magistrates’ ordered the probation service to carry out a report into the defendant before the next hearing on July 25.

They said: “Your case will be sent to the crown court for sentence on the 25th of July at 10am. Until that time and date we’re granting you unconditional bail.”

No further details of the case were outlined.