In 2026, the Offender Database reported that Ken Goudie, then in his 40s, of Carrickburn Road, Carrickfergus, County Antrim, was sentenced for a “reprehensible” act of voyeurism. On Wednesday, 28 January 2026, Goudie appeared at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to recording a man in a leisure centre changing room for his own sexual gratification.
The investigation established that in May 2024, Goudie targeted a man at Larne Leisure Centre. The victim, a martial arts coach, reported that Goudie stared at him in the showers before placing a mobile phone inside a gym bag, with the camera pointed directly at the changing area. When confronted, Goudie attempted to destroy the device and flee via a fire escape. The victim chased and restrained him until Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers arrived. The prosecution reported that Goudie “dishonestly” refused to provide his phone PIN, preventing officers from determining if the images had been shared online.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Goudie maintained a plea of not guilty until the final day of the proceedings, causing the victim significant “serious” distress and prolonged anxiety. The judge noted that the defendant’s actions were a calculated breach of privacy intended for sexual gratification. The prosecution emphasised that while Goudie attempted to claim the incident was a misunderstanding, his attempts to destroy evidence and escape indicated a clear consciousness of guilt.
The judge noted that the impact on the victim has been substantial, leading to increased anxiety regarding the potential existence of the footage on the internet. Although the police were unable to bypass the device’s encryption due to the withheld PIN, the court ordered the phone to remain in police possession rather than be destroyed, following the victim’s request. For his crimes in Larne and Ballymena, the court determined that a period of community service and long-term monitoring was necessary to address his “deviant” behaviour.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Northern Ireland, Ken Goudie was handed:
- Community Service: 100 hours of unpaid work.
- Probation: A probation order for one and a half years.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for five years.
- SOPO: A Sexual Offences Prevention Order for ten years.
- Conviction: Pled guilty to one count of voyeurism.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Goudie is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by the PSNI and the Probation Board for Northern Ireland. Due to the nature of his offending in a public changing facility in County Antrim, his conduct is subject to oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Goudie must comply with mandatory notification requirements regarding his residence in Carrickburn Road, Carrickfergus, County Antrim. Authorities state that his ten-year SOPO is a “serious” tool intended to restrict his access to similar environments and monitor his future behaviour. Any breach of his registration conditions, his probation, or his SOPO will result in his immediate arrest and return to Ballymena Magistrates’ Court.
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