In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Kevin Bacchus, then 64, of Balkwell Avenue, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, was sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court. Bacchus, who previously lived in Rhyl, Denbighshire, was prosecuted for a “reprehensible” campaign of voyeurism and the possession of child abuse material spanning over a decade.
The investigation established that Bacchus used a tiny camera concealed in his shoe to secretly film under the skirts of women and young schoolgirls. He targeted seven women during a 1940s festival in Colwyn Bay, but the prosecution reported that his “vile” behaviour had actually targeted hundreds of victims over more than three years. When North Wales Police arrested him in April 2018, a forensic search of his devices uncovered 111 indecent photographs of children and two “serious” Category A images dating back as far as 2007.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Bacchus admitted five counts of outraging public decency and several charges related to the making and possession of indecent child images. The judge noted that the defendant’s use of a “shoe camera” was a calculated and “serious” attempt to exploit unsuspecting members of the public in a seaside town. The prosecution emphasised that the inclusion of schoolgirls among his “vile” targets demonstrated a “reprehensible” and predatory nature that required long-term monitoring.
The judge noted that while the offences were “serious,” Bacchus was handed a 12-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months. The prosecution emphasised that the defendant’s age and his admission of guilt were taken into account during sentencing, though the court imposed a strict curfew from 7 pm to 7 am for three months. For his crimes in Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, and North Shields, the court determined that Bacchus must be prohibited from possessing specialised micro-camera equipment to prevent further “vile” offending.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Wales and England, Kevin Bacchus was handed:
- Suspended Sentence: 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.
- Curfew: A three-month 7 pm – 7 am electronic monitoring curfew.
- SHPO: Made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order banning micro-camera equipment.
- Rehabilitation: Ordered to attend a specialist sex offender treatment program.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated upon conviction.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Bacchus is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Northumbria Police and the Probation Service. Due to the “serious” nature of his long-term voyeurism and his possession of Category A child abuse material, his management in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, is subject to oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Bacchus must comply with mandatory notification requirements regarding his residence in Balkwell Avenue, North Shields. Authorities state that his SHPO is a “serious” tool that prevents him from owning any camera not built into a smartphone. Any “reprehensible” breach of these conditions, or any further voyeuristic activity in Tyne and Wear or elsewhere, will result in his immediate arrest and return to court.
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