McDonald’s worker who admitted voyeurism after putting camera in women’s toilets gets community order
Man admitted placing phone in toilets at McDonald's (stock photo)
A former McDonald’s worker who installed a camera in female toilets during a shift at an Ipswich branch was threatened to do so by a man named ‘Danger’, a court has heard.
Luke Whiting, 21, of Heatherhayes, Ipswich, was subjected to a number of demands from the man, who was only identified to the court as ‘Danger’, after an “unwelcome” meeting with him, Ipswich magistrates’ court heard
‘Danger’ ordered Whiting to hand over money and get items from shops, as the demands “escalated over time”, the court was told.
Prosecutor Tess Mann said Whiting was “frightened” and “not happy” to carry out a demand of filming someone using female toilets.
David Allan, for the defence, said: “(Whiting) became more worried about what the man would do. His will crumbled and he went ahead and did it.
“He initially recorded (the video), but quickly changed his mind and went back to retrieve the phone, but it was too late. It had been seen.”
A co-worker found the phone at around 10.30pm on October 18. Police arrested Whiting that night.
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Whiting was accused of operating a mobile phone with the intention of enabling another person to observe someone doing a private act for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification.
He pleaded guilty to the voyeurism offence at the first hearing at Ipswich magistrates’ court last month.
Whiting was banned from every McDonald’s in the country between the first hearing and sentencing yesterday.
No private footage was recorded on the phone, the court heard.
Mr Allan said it was “very important” that Whiting did not carry out the offence for his own sexual gratification.
“It was entirely down to demands,” he added.
He admitted it was “foolish” that Whiting did not report anything to police. He added: “He was not thinking straight and went against his nature. Some serious lessons have been learnt.”
Chairwoman of the bench, Virginia Spray, described the offence as “unpleasant and serious”.
Whiting was given a 12-month community order, 150 hours of unpaid work and total court costs of £170.
McDonald’s have been made aware of the case but have not yet commented.
