A holidaymaker who set up a camera in a bathroom to record a video of a close friend has been placed on the sex offenders register.
The woman spotted the device shortly after stepping into the shower and confronted Ronald Thomson, with whom she and her husband had shared holidays for two decades.
Thomson (45), of Ambleside Gardens, Dundee, immediately admitted his bizarre crime but could give no explanation for it when he appeared at Perth Sheriff Court on Tuesday.
He pleaded guilty to installing and concealing a camera in the bathroom of Ladyhill Coach House in Birnam, to record the woman either naked or in a state of undress on January 4.
Depute fiscal Robbie Brown said Thomson and the couple had booked the two-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage for a New Year break.
He said, “The accused had gone for a shower about 9.30am. About half an hour later the complainer went into the shower.
“Whilst in the shower she saw something which attracted her attention. Something was apparently protruding from the accused’s toilet bag, which was on the windowsill.
“She made her way to the windowsill and confirmed her suspicions that it was the accused’s camera and there was a red light indicating it was switched on.”
Mr Brown said she was “extremely distressed” and took the camera to her room.
He said, “She heard the accused go off to the bathroom and heard him rummaging about, obviously searching for the camera. The accused then obviously realised what had happened and came to the door and said he’d made a silly mistake.”
Her husband then confronted Thomson.
Mr Brown said, “He admitted he made a bad mistake and had let everybody down.”
The couple left the cottage and contacted the police. Thomson again admitted his guilt to officers.
Mr Brown said, “There were actually no images of the complainer on the camera, presumably because it had a low battery. The only person who could be seen was the accused because his face was seen as he was setting it up.”
Thomson’s solicitor Scott Norrie said, “Mr Thomson and the complainers have known each other for virtually 20 years and they holiday together twice a year and one of the tragic consequences of these actions is he has lost a good friendship.”
Thomson has been signed off work as a heating system installer since police visited his employer during their inquiries. He is now a “virtual recluse” with a depressive illness and is seeking medical help for that, as well as the underlying causes of his crime.
“He wishes he could turn the clock back but now at least he has started to get some help from professionals,” said Mr Norrie.
Thomson will be sentenced on June 22 when reports have been considered. The time he will stay on the sex offenders register will be determined on that date.