Washington man sentenced for voyeurism and recording a private act
A Washington man who committed sex offences in Scarborough and South Shields has been sentenced to two five-year court orders.
Darren Ather, 31, pleaded guilty to a charge of voyeurism at a hearing at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, October 7.
He recorded another person doing a private act in Scarborough, North Yorks, between Saturday, August 10, and Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
Ather, of Blackfell, returned to the same court on Thursday, November 27, to also admit a charge of attempting to observe a person doing a private act in South Shields on Friday, August 23, 2024.
Prosecutor Lesley Burgess did not address the court in detail, after District Judge Zoe Passfield said she had read a pre-sentence report, containing details of the offences.
During proceedings, Judge Passfield also said of the South Shields charge, “Only one victim, a child.”
Judge Passfield sentenced Ather to a 24-month community order, with 30 rehabilitation days and 26 sessions of a separate programme requirement.
She made him subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and imposed a sexual harm prevention order, both for five years.
The judge also ordered Ather, who is on benefits, to pay a £114 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.
She told him: “I’ve given you full credit for your guilty pleas. I also take account of the fact that you’ve no previous convictions. I’ve also read the pre-sentence report and note that you were very open and candid with the Probation Service, which gives me some hope that rehabilitation is likely in this case.”