Peeping Pc given suspended term

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A police officer who admitted spying on a female colleague after he made a peephole into an Essex police station's gym has received a suspended jail term.

David Smith, 47, from Royston, Herts, pleaded guilty to two counts of voyeurism at Chelmsford Crown Court.

The court heard how Smith resigned as a constable after admitting observing people at the station for sexual gratification in March and April.

Smith was given a three-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

He must also complete a sex offenders' programme.

'Calculated' act

Smith admitted "adapting part of the structure" at a police station to "observe another person doing a private act".

A police officer for 25 years, Smith had developed "an infatuation" with a female colleague and regretted his actions, Stephen Levy, mitigating told the court.

Sentencing, Judge David Turner QC, said: "You were a serving police officer at the time.

"You were perpetrating this during the working day while you were in the uniform of the service.

"It was calculated and planned. You had to work out what you were going to do and how you were going to do it."