Reading Crown Court: Voyeur spied on women around the globe from his Newbury home computer

A VOYEUR used sophisticated, dark web technology to ogle naked women in their homes around the globe.

The 39-year-old hacked into online cameras from his Newbury home so he could ogle women having sex and to spy on scantily-clad females on beaches in the UK, the USA, Russia and eastern Europe.

On Tuesday, October 4, Robert Reid, who was living in St George's Avenue, was beginning a 12 month prison sentence for his latest offending.

However he may be kept in jail after finishing the sentence because he was also subject to an indefinite jail term imposed in 2007 for trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence.

On that occasion his female victim awoke to find Reid in her bedroom, lifting up her top and touching her.

At Tuesday's hearing Reid admitted causing a computer to perform a function to enable unauthorised access to data.

Charles Ward-Jackson, prosecuting, said: "It was quite a sophisticated process.

"He first accessed a security website which had a list of people who own the CCTV footage and registered with another Russian website, which provided security camera passwords.

"He was able to view footage of many females either in their homes, in the workplace, or on public beaches.

"Finally, he used an application allowing him to record footage and to build a library.

"He told police he started in August 2020 and had watched hundreds of films.

"He said he had a sexual interest in watching women and part of the excitement was that they didn't know they were being watched."

The court heard Reid had been released from prison on licence following his prior offending and was recalled to prison once his latest crimes were discovered.

Mr Ward-Jackson added: "A police cyber crime unit expert explained that all the footage viewed came from IP cameras, often used for home and office security.

"A total of 21 files were found, which showed various clips taken from all over the world, including the US, Russia, South America and Eastern Europe.

"Some of the home footage showed females partially undressed and in one clip it can be seen a couple having sexual intercourse."

Sabrina Felix, defending, said: "This was during the midst of the Covid pandemic.

"He had been working for some time within the catering industry.

"When the pandemic hit, it affected many people in many different ways.

"Unfortunately, for Mr Reid he felt particularly lonely.

"He hadn't been in a relationship and he was a man who was used to being around people, as is the way with pub life.

"He found himself isolated and cut-off.

"Since his recall to custody, he has completed courses and he realised that he had an unhealthy interest in voyeurism.

"He knows he will be sentenced to a period in custody, but he just wanted the court to be aware of his remorse and regret."

Judge Edward Burgess KC said: "The name of the offence doesn't reflect the underlying voyeuristic sexual interest with women, which is a theme I have identified in your previous convictions.

"This involves significant planning and sophistication, by hacking into cameras.

"There were hundreds of films and images recorded.

"I'm in no doubt this is a case of increased harm because victims from all around the world were recorded in their own homes and where they believed they would be enjoying the right to a private life."

Reid was jailed for 12 months, at least half of which he must spend locked up.

The authorities will then consider if his indefinite prison sentence, handed to him in 2007, should be enacted.