Peeping Tom put phone in womens toilets

A PEEPING Tom who put his mobile phone in the women’s toilets at discount store was caught after a member of staff found it.

Magistrates heard how Daniel Gaskell, worked at Home Bargains, was spotted soon afterwards searching for the phone and ordered to leave the store by the manager.

At Wigan Magistrates’ Court Gaskell, aged 28, of Alma Street, Radcliffe, was given a community sentence and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years after pleading guilty to attempting to observe a person doing a private act for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification.

Daniel Gaskell

Peter Williams, prosecuting, told the court how a member of staff at Home Bargains in Farnworth went into the toilets on February 8, discovered the mobile phone and alerted the manager.

“The defendant tried to go back and retrieve the phone, couldn’t locate it and was found looking for his phone around the store,” said Mr Williams. “Eventually he tried to speak to his manager who told him to just go away.”

Gaskell was later found by police standing on the railway line off Carlton Street, Farnworth.

When questioned, Gaskell admitted placing the phone in the toilets but denied any sexual motive.

Rahil Khan, defending, said Gaskell has a “great deal of shame and embarrassment” about his behaviour.

“He cannot, even six months later, provide an explanation as to why he committed that offence on that particular day,” said Mr Khan, who added that Gaskell is now seeking help for his mental health.

Home Bargains at Farnworth

The court heard that Gaskell has no previous convictions.

He was sentenced to a community order for two years which includes doing 150 hours of unpaid work and participating in a sex offender programme plus 10 days of rehabilitation activities.

Gaskell must also pay £250 in compensation plus £180 in costs.

Magistrate Stephen Paine told him: “Doing this type of offence, especially to friends and workmates, is particularly distasteful.”

“The only reason we are not sending you straight to prison is your guilty plea and that you have complied with the probation service.”

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