Court heard Gerard Anthony Salmon showed a "degree of planning" for sex act at Andover Leisure Centre

Gerard Anthony Salmon pleaded guilty to observing another person doing a private act without their knowledge, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, at Andover Leisure Centre last month.

The 66-year-old, of Abbotts Ann, was given a total fine of £170, including costs of £85 and a victim services fund of £85, and given a community order at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 19 August 19.

The court heard how Salmon took a mirror in to the mixed-sex changing room and used it to look over his victim’s cubicle on Sunday, 12 June 12.

Using CCTV footage of those entering and leaving the leisure centre, staff were able to figure out it was Salmon who had committed the act. The victim, a woman in her mid-40s, wrote a victim impact statement that which was read out at the sentencing.

Mr Foster, prosecuting, presented the statement in court which said: “This is the first time this has happened to me. It has made me feel quite uncomfortable.”

The victim, who can not be named for legal reasons said she had only recently returned to the leisure centre and had to be accompanied by her mother.

The letter said: “I was in shock and in disbelief. I couldn’t believe this had happened to me.”

In the letter, the victim said that she felt anger when reliving the incident and that she felt herself to be nervous and constantly looking around her.

It added: “Normally I would go two times a week but I’ve avoided going.

“My confidence has taken a huge knock. I’m constantly wondering if this has happened before.”

“He cannot be allowed to hurt someone else as he has hurt me.”

Ms Thomas, defending, told the court how Salmon had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity when approached by police.

She also told how Salmon had written a letter to the victim showing regret of his actions.

Ms Thomas argued that how quickly he wrote the letter showed that Salmon was not particularly targeting the victim and was of his own volition.

She added that a community order of 150 hours of unpaid work was a little bit high.

Ms Thomas told the court that Salmon had not contested his identification, despite the fact he could have done so.

Overall, she asked the magistrates to take into account his guilty plea at first opportunity and his signs of remorse.

When issuing his sentence the chairman, Miss Ede, said that 150 hours was appropriate as a punitive measure.

She said: “It’s a serious offence, in fact, as probably aware it’s so serious it could have attracted a custodial sentence.”

His community order states that Salmon must participate in an accredited Sex Offender Group wok programme, which may take up to 100 days within the next three years.

Salmon was also ordered to complete a rehabilitation activity.

When handing out the sentence Miss Ede agreed with the prosecution in not adding a victim compensation fine.

All agreed that it would not benefit the victim and could make matters worse.

Miss Ede added that Salmon was free to make a donation to a charity if he wished instead.

She said to Salmon: “It’s a really sad state of affairs you are entirely responsible for.”

Kevin Paterson, Valley Leisure CEO, said: “”Although this was a distressing experience, it is a very rare occurrence at the leisure centre.

“Lifeguards, supervisors and duty managers regularly monitor the changing rooms and we worked with the police to make sure this person was brought to justice. His membership was cancelled and he is banned from all Valley Leisure sites.”