A man spied on people undressing in family changing cubicles for sexual gratification, a court heard.

Gregory Wright went to Colchester Leisure World to carry out the offence more than 100 times over a two-year period.

He was caught when police set up a surveillance operation after staff alerted them to continuous damage to changing areas.

They arrested Wright, of Edgware Road, Clacton, after he spent 90 minutes in one of the changing spaces on January 14. He had tools with him, Colchester magistrates heard.

The 48-year-old at first denied charges of voyeurism, saying he used the leisure pool cubicles to "warm-up" before going to play squash. He said on the day, he had also been trying to access e-mails from his mobile phone.

Nicola Leppard, prosecuting, said: "After being challenged, he admitted he had been looking through the holes in the cubicles to afford a view of other people getting changed."

He told police he committed an indecent act in the cubicle.

Yesterday he admitted going to the leisure centre, in Cowdray Avenue, on January 14, possessing articles with intent to cause damage.

He also admitted charges of voyeurism relating to January 7 and 14, November 15 and September 23.

Russell Haldane, mitigating, said: "This is on any view a wholly unusual case, and the basis of the admissions made is that no children have been viewed."

Magistrates adjourned sentencing for reports and released him on bail, with conditions he must not enter Leisure World or any public changing cubicles.

Leisure World marketing manager Karen Tye said: "We hope that this case sends a strong and positive message to the public that unsavoury and criminal behaviour will not be tolerated at the centre."

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Published Friday, February 25, 2005

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