Pervert ex-Army surveillance officer jailed for recording unsuspecting female with hidden camera.

Former Army Officer Jailed for Spying on Woman with Hidden Camera

A former Army officer, Peter Cartwright, from Hartlepool, has been jailed for installing a hidden camera to record a woman without her knowledge.

Cartwright, 44, pleaded guilty to voyeurism at Teesside Magistrates Court last month. The court heard that the victim discovered the camera after spotting a red light and shouted, "Why is there a camera [here]?"

The victim stated that she felt physically sick upon finding the camera, describing it as "the nastiest shock I've ever had in my life." The incident has had a significant impact on her and her family, with the victim experiencing suicidal thoughts and nightmares.

Cartwright initially claimed that he had only hidden the camera once, but later confessed to doing so multiple times. He attempted to justify his actions by claiming he was trying to recreate the thrill of his former surveillance activities in the Army, but the judge rejected this explanation.

Judge Howard Crowson, sentencing Cartwright to eight months in prison, said, "I'm afraid I do take the view that this type of offense is so serious and the harm caused is so grave that the only way I can appropriately punish you is by immediate custody." The judge also stated that he did not believe Cartwright had shown real remorse for his actions.

Cartwright will also be placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.