A man who hid a camera in a Marks & Spencer bathroom had been having “urges” to film people using toilets for “years”, a court was told.
James Ayoola, 30, appeared in the dock at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court on Monday, having previously admitted a count of voyeurism relating to August 2023, when he was employed at the M&S store in Martlesham.
The court heard that a colleague was working a night shift with Ayoola when she went to use the disabled bathroom at about 3.30am.
Whilst in the bathroom, the woman noticed that the bin had been moved. She then discovered an iPhone concealed in a sock had been propped up, facing the toilet, with a hole cut away for the lens.
The iPhone had been recording for just over six minutes and was identified to belong to Ayoola when a manager checked the phone’s other photographs.
When the woman realised that she had been filmed using the toilet, the woman felt “very unwell”, and began to have a panic attack. Two years on, the court heard she is still upset by the incident.
The manager then saw Ayoola leaving the store. When questioned, he said he was feeling sick and had to go home.
Ayoola, of Rydal Walk, Ipswich, pleaded guilty to the offence, and the court heard that he made full admissions in interviews.
It was said that Ayoola had admitted having “urges” for years to film people using toilets, which he had “fought” until the day in question.
He had been employed at the Martlesham M&S store for about two and a half years, but there was no suggestion he had committed similar offences previously.
Ayoola was ordered to pay the victim £750 in compensation.
He was also handed a two-year community order which will require him to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work and up to 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He has been banned from the Martlesham M&S for two years.
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