Young model speaks about being victim of convicted Flintshire voyeur

The fashion and glamour model, who was living in Flintshire when the offence took place, said the discovery of the camera disguised as a pen on the top of a pot of Vaseline was the beginning of a long and agonising year.

55-year-old photographer Barry Mappley of Connah’s Quay, was found guilty by magistrates at Mold of two charges of voyeurism as his home.

Declaring their sentencing powers to be insufficient, magistrates referred the matter to Caernarfon Crown Court where Judge Timothy Petts handed him an eight-month sentence suspended for a year.

The victim, who no longer lives in North Wales, told the Leader that she felt an unsettling feeling while in the bathroom. But any suspicions she had were only confirmed when she found what appeared to be a black pen on top of a tub behind two cans of deodorant.

The pen was hidden on a bathroom shelf

She said: “Something was terribly wrong here. On closely inspecting the pen without touching it, I noticed what looked like a tiny lens just above the part which hooks onto a shirt or jacket pocket. At this point I had to reach up and grab it. On closely inspecting, it was clear to me what this was.

“I confided in a couple of friends and they too immediately confirmed what I was looking at, finding the exact same pen online for roughly £25. One of my friends told me to take out the SD card and take it to the police.

“I kept the SD card safe and made my excuses to stay away for a couple of days until a friend of mine was able to come to the station with me to make a statement.”

The woman said she experienced a rush of emotions and could not leave the bathroom for two hours. Even then she had to keep up the pretence that nothing was wrong until she could make her excuses and leave the property.

She added: “I went from feeling unsettled one minute, to suspicious, confused and in shock. I was literally shaking. Then I felt angry and tearful. Almost helpless, even though the people on the other end of the phone were guiding me through and helping me any which way they could.

“The hardest part was having to act normal when I came out the bathroom. I hardly slept that night. I even placed a heavy leather ottoman in front of the bedroom door, feeling paranoid that one might be watching me in the bedroom but disguised as something else. There were a row of Teddy bears on the top shelf and I had to even put them face down and lay under the duvet wishing the hours away.”

After discovering the secret camera, the model faced another ordeal of having to tell the authorities what had happened.

Fortunately, she was supported by a close friend.

The pen was on the top of pot of Vaseline

She added: “I had one of my very good photographer friends with me by my side to support me all the way. I don’t think I could have done it on my own. He really gave me strength and confidence, and a sense of calmness and positivity. He assured me that everything was going to be ok.

“I felt at ease to sit there and run through everything. I was a little relieved to have finally put it all down on file, and now the next step was to look for somewhere else to live urgently... From here, I know this could potentially be a long wait to see what the outcome of this would be.”

After getting giving her evidence to the police, the victim then faced a long wait until Mappley finally appeared in court.

She continued her modelling and acting work, moved away from Flintshire, but described the intervening months as “a drag”.

Fortunately, she had a good network of friends, many who were fellow models and photographers, to keep her spirits up.

She continued: “The levels of anxiety started to increase waiting for a court date to come through, and then there was the waiting time after a date had been set. It’s as if the reality of it had really kicked in. I was going through some rough nights again, a couple of those being as result of bad dreams relating to it. My work was even being effected by it. My mind was in overdrive, running through a million questions a day. I was helplessly overthinking everything.

“I couldn’t bear to face him again.

“He betrayed me. I felt so violated by his behaviour.”

The woman, while disappointed that the man who betrayed her trust was spared jail, says she does not regret speaking up and hopes that what happened to her could encourage others to get out of similar situations.

She added: “Always go with your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, it usually isn’t. Sometimes we helplessly fall into a trap especially when vulnerable and in a time of need.

“Still, these kind of experiences finally make you stronger once you’ve had the time to heal. It’s not to say we may not fall victim again, but it does make you act faster the next time round, even if it means listening to your instincts from the word go to avoid a potentially nasty situation.

“Never ever be afraid to speak up. If you feel in danger, tell anyone and everyone you can who you trust. Staying quiet makes it easier for people like this to get away with anything.. The way you have to look at it is that if someone can take things as far as this, what could they do to the next person? You would only regret it if you didn’t speak up. Women - and men - fall victim to some sort of sexual harassment and abuse, be it in the form of voyeurism, sexual assault, rape, physical and emotional abuse. Lets all stick together and bring these kind of predators down together to help make the world a better place.

She concluded by saying that most of those working in glamour industry on either side of the camera are normal, hardworking people.

“The industry I work in has its fair share of genuinely lovely people, and there are some out there who continue to get away with all sorts. If you ever feel unsure of what to do, but your instincts are telling you to do something, just open a file case discreetly with the police anyway.

"Most of those are good eggs providing you do your research right - and that’s not to say it’s ‘always’ going to be ok - but one thing for sure is I or nobody else should tarnish everyone with the same brush because of one devious individual.

“Be safe and speak up.”

A PHOTOGRAPHER who hid a spy camera in his bathroom to take intrusive pictures of a glamour model staying with him has been spared jail.

55-year-old Barry Mappley of Connah’s Quay, had been found guilty by Flintshire magistrates of two charges of voyeurism and at Caernarfon crown court Judge Timothy Petts gave him an eight-month sentence suspended for a year.

He must pay his victim £500 in compensation and an indefinite restraining order bans any contact.

Mappley, also finance director for a building firm, will be on the sex offenders’ register for ten years and he must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work with 25 days of rehabilitation activity.

Maria Masselis, prosecuting, said he worked as a professional photographer taking erotic and lingerie shots. He had met the young woman at a modelling event in the North West and invited her to move in when she needed a place to stay.

She had been happy believing it was a platonic friendship but he became jealous when she said she was dating and told her not to meet anyone in future.

Miss Masselis said the vicitm was in the bathroom when she discovered a pen on top of a pot of Vaseline and realised it was a recording device.

She reported what had happened to police. Images had been transferred to a computer.

Mappley had tried to claim in explanation that he installed the camera because he believed the woman was using drugs.

Oliver King, defending, said Mappley now recognised there had been a sexual motive but there was no suggestion images had been shared.

Judge Petts said the woman was a friend for whom he had developed a fixation and exploited with a spy-phone for sexual gratification. The victim felt betrayed by the breach of trust and the £500 was “in recognition of the distress you have caused her”.

The judge ordered that a computer tower should be destroyed but that police should enable Mappley to extract family photographs.