Spy cam voyeur filmed girl, 12

Carl Cowburn had set up a secret camera to film the footage of the girl when she was aged between 12 and 15 and then downloaded it on his computer equipment.

His depraved behaviour only came to light when his wife, who had suspected him of infidelity, stumbled across the images on his laptop and notified the police.

Six months later more images of the unwitting victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, were also found on his Netbook and two hard drives, said Arthur Gibson, prosecuting.

The 45-year-old, formerly of Wigan and Atherton, pleaded guilty to one charge of voyeurism, one of taking indecent photographs and 11 of possessing such images.

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.

Anthony O’Donohoe, defending, said that Cowburn, now of Windermere Avenue, Warrington, has lost everything by his behaviour: his wife, employment and home.

He has no previous convictions but had taken a realistic approach and accepted a custodial sentence was inevitable.