Electrician Jailed for Extensive Voyeurism Scheme in Aberdeen

An electrician in Aberdeen has been incarcerated for an extensive voyeurism scheme that spanned over a decade. James Denholm, 34, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison after admitting to multiple charges involving 17 individuals.

The offenses committed by Denholm included voyeurism and stalking, with victims ranging from former partners to customers who had hired him for electrical work. The electrician exploited his professional position to gain access to private spaces, where he secretly installed recording devices.

"James Denholm exploited a position of trust to gain access to his victims during this alarming pattern of behaviour. He filmed several individuals during private moments in places where they should have felt safe, such as their own homes and in public bathrooms."

The crimes came to light in May 2022, approximately 2 years and 4 months ago, when a victim discovered a recording device under her bed and alerted the authorities. This led to a police raid on Denholm's Aberdeen residence, where detectives uncovered a trove of evidence on various storage media, including hard drives, SD cards, mobile phones, laptops, and cameras.

Investigations revealed that Denholm's voyeuristic activities dated back to June 2013, continuing until August 2023, just over a year ago. Additionally, he admitted to possessing indecent images and videos of children between 2007 and 2012, more than 12 years ago.

The court imposed several measures to prevent future offenses. Denholm was added to the sex offenders register indefinitely, a system established in the UK in 1997 to monitor convicted sex offenders. The court also issued non-harassment orders, prohibiting him from contacting or attempting to contact four of his victims. Furthermore, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed for seven years, a measure introduced in England and Wales in 2015 to manage the risk posed by sex offenders.

Detective Inspector Mark Lambley of Police Scotland emphasized the gravity of the case and urged victims of sexual crimes to come forward, stating, "Sexual crime of any nature will not be tolerated. We will thoroughly investigate any reports made to us, no matter how much time has passed."

This case underscores the evolving challenges of privacy protection in the digital age. Since the introduction of the first mobile phone with a built-in camera in 2000 and the widespread adoption of various recording technologies, the potential for privacy violations has increased significantly. It serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need for robust legal frameworks to address such crimes.