'Pervert' police officer who secretly filmed women in shower is sacked

Pc Andrew Price, of Bettws, near Newtown, hid a tiny USB camera in a black toiletries bag which he left on a window sill to capture the video.

Price, 52, admitted one charge of voyeurism and one of attempted voyeurism, which took place at a property in Caldicot.

When he appeared at Newport Crown Court he was sentenced to six months for each offence to be served concurrently and suspended them for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work, and will have to sign on the sex offenders' register for seven years.

At his sentencing, the court was told Price had filmed nude images of the unsuspecting victims.

One video showed an 18-year-old woman brushing her teeth, while another captured another woman washing her hands, the court heard.

A third video recorded a woman taking a shower for more than seven minutes. The clip examined by police showed "full frontal" images of the woman, naked besides a towel wrapped round her head, Newport Crown Court heard.

A police investigation later revealed he had searched pornography online and search terms indicated he had an interest in "young girls", prosecutor Hywel Hughes told the court.

Tim Naylor, for the defence, said his client had expressed the "deepest remorse" and apologised to the women affected by the voyeurism.

Mr Naylor admitted there was an "element of planning" in his behaviour but stressed there was no evidence Price had intended to distribute or circulate the videos online.

He added that his client accepted the shame he had brought on himself and described the voyeurism as a "shameful act" displaying "incredible stupidity".

The former Dyfed Powys officer has lost his job, his car and is in the process of losing his home as a result of the "transient act of stupidity", Mr Naylor said, adding that Price had spent 13 years serving the community in the police.

Judge Patrick Harrington ordered Price to pay an £80 surcharge and ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the recording device.

He told him: "You had everything going for you and it's all gone, and your punishment is your shame. This was a wicked thing to do as well as a stupid one. You now face being described as a secret pervert."

After the sentencing, Dyfed Powys Police issued a statement saying: "Dyfed Powys Police can confirm that Andrew Price was immediately suspended from duty following the criminal allegations against him. At a special case hearing Mr Price was found guilty of gross misconduct through discreditable conduct and he was dismissed without notice."

Chief Inspector Jon Cummins, of Dyfed Powys Police, said: "While no offences were committed while Mr Price was on policing duty, the crime that was committed contravened the standards of professional conduct expected of a police officer at all times. My thoughts are with the victim and family at this difficult time."