An electrician who hid cameras in people’s homes and secretly filmed them – including in “intimate situations” – has been jailed.
James Denholm, 34, committed a string of offences – including voyeurism and stalking – and was only caught when a woman found a recording device hidden under her bed.
Denholm’s Aberdeen home was searched by police following the discovery in May 2022, with officers seizing various hard drives, SD cards, mobile phones, laptops and cameras.
Evidence of his offending was recovered from the devices, with a number of women filmed in intimate situations without their consent.
As well as installing the cameras in homes, he also put them in public toilets.
Denholm secretly filmed 17 people – including 16 women – between June 2013 and August 2023, according to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
He also admitted possessing indecent images and videos of children between 2007 and 2012.
In July, Denholm pleaded guilty to 16 charges at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
He returned for sentencing on Monday and was jailed for two years and eight months.
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Denholm ‘exploited a position of trust’
Alison McKenzie, procurator fiscal for Grampian, Highlands and Islands, said: “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.
“His depraved behaviour has had lasting consequences on a number of those targeted during this sickening campaign.
“I hope this conviction serves as a warning to others that we take crimes of this nature extremely seriously and will use all the tools available to us to seek justice.”
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Following his release from custody, Denholm will be supervised for a further two-and-a-half years.
His name has been added to the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and he has been banned from contacting four of his victims.
In addition, Denholm was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for a period of seven years.
Detective Inspector Mark Lambley said sexual crime of any nature “will not be tolerated”.
The Police Scotland officer added: “Denholm now faces the consequences of his despicable and distressing actions.
“Our thoughts remain with his victims who had their privacy violated. We hope that his sentencing will bring them some comfort.”