A HANDYMAN set up cameras to secretly record people using a toilet at a Hampshire caravan park, a court heard.

Lee Woodberry wanted to film them using the facility for his own sexual gratification but was found out when a staff member spotted the camera.

Southampton Magistrates’ Court was told how police discovered two cameras - one concealed in a wash bag and the other in a ceiling light - in a toilet at the Green Pastures Caravan Park in Ower.

Woodberry’s plans were uncovered by a woman who spotted a hole in the bag and something sticking out of it which turned out to be a camera.

Police found only recordings of Woodberry setting up the camera. Investigators who analysed Woodberry’s iPad, computer and other electrical devices found no evidence anyone else had been filmed.

In interview the 42-year-old, who no longer works there and is now a welder, said this was the first time he had done anything like this and he had not had the chance to record any footage.

He told police the cameras had been in place for a week.

A wire from the camera led to a nearby shed used by Woodberry, a handyman on the site, who was arrested on January 12.

Louise Holmes, prosecuting, said his actions showed a “significant degree of planning” and he could offer no explanation other than he wanted to watch for his own sexual gratification.

Woodberry, who the court heard was in a relationship with the caravan park manager at the time, admitted he had set up the camera in order to watch people using the toilet, one woman in particular, and said he was ashamed and embarrassed.

Gary Leonard, mitigating, asked magistrates to take into account Woodberry’s early guilty plea, cooperation and “genuine remorse”.

He said there was no evidence that Woodberry had actually videoed anything and he had told police that he had been preparing to and had not seen anything private relating to anyone.

Mr Leonard argued there was nothing to indicate he was a danger, though read from a report prepared for the hearing that stated Woodberry was a “medium risk of causing harm to women”.

Woodberry, who has been temporarily living at a caravan site on the Isle of Wight for the past two months, but previously of The Ruskins, Kings Road, Bembridge, Isle of Wight, admitted two counts of voyeurism by installing the cameras.

Mr Leonard told how he had lost his job, his partner and his home as a result and had only a previous motoring offence.

Arguing against a jail term, he said this would not serve Woodberry or society, adding: “What’s in the interests of society is to allow him to put this behind him and continue to be a good, productive member of society.”

He received a 12-week sentence suspended for 18 months on each offence to run concurrently, an 18-month community order and 100 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £365.