A VOYEUR who used a mobile phone in his trouser pocket to film his victim in a next door toilet cubicle has been spared a jail sentence.


Paul Murphy-Wade, 30, of Hartley Green Gardens, Billinge, pleaded guilty last month at Merseyside Magistrates’ Court to four counts of voyeurism by recording a private act "for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification". 


Magistrates imposed a two-year community order on Murphy-Wade as he appeared for sentencing today (Monday).


Murphy-Wade, who committed the offences at a public building in St Helens, was an employee of St Helens Council at the time of the offences and also a parish councillor for Seneley Green.


Prosecutor Lionel Cope told the court how his victim had noticed Murphy-Wade, who was arrested last December, “using the toilet cubicle next to him next to him and seemingly filming him”.


He said: “The defendant would lower his trousers with the phone in his pocket and manoeuvring his foot behind the cubicle”, although the victim believed he “may have been mistaken” initially.


Mr Cope said on December 13 last year the victim saw Murphy-Wade appear to following him into the toilets and “recognised his shoes and felt uncomfortable”.


He “observed the defendant moving his foot in an unusual manner so he could film him”.


The court heard that at one stage Murphy-Wade “stood up in the cubicle” and the victim noticed the mobile phone “filming down”. 


Mr Cope said when confronted by the victim, Murphy-Wade said: “‘I’ve deleted them’”.


“He was asked to get out the phone and Murphy-Wade showed him the phone and said ‘I’ve deleted them’”. 


After his victim asked him what he was doing he replied: “‘I know, I’m sorry. Can this be the end of it?’ and kept repeating it." 


Defending, Graham Simpson described Murphy-Wade as a "man of good character" and said the defendant, who has resigned from his job and stood down as a parish councillor, has lost his "career prospects" and "reputation" in the community.


"He apologises through me to the victim and that is an unreserved apology and at the first hearing he entered a guilty plea".


Mr Simpson added: "There is no suggestion of commercial exploitation (and) he has no previous convictions.


"Remorse is there and he has told me of matters in his private life that were there.


"He is not likely to be in front of another court in future."


Asking the magistrates not to impose a custodial sentence, Mr Simpson said a jail term "would serve no useful purpose".


Referring to Murphy-Wade's actions, Mr Simpson added: "I don't think he thought it through, he has no rational explanation for his behaviour". 


In passing sentence, magistrates said: "We have discussed this very thoroughly in respect of how we take this forward. 


"We have decided to deal with this by the way of a community order. That will be for two years."


Conditions of the order are that Murphy-Wade must complete 30 days of rehabilitation activity and attend a sexual offences programme. 


He must also undertake 140 hours of unpaid work and pay £250 compensation to the victim, an £85 victim surcharge and £85 in costs. 

Magistrates also imposed a two-year restraining order forbidding Murphy-Wade from contacting the victim.