This Sunderland pervert who secretly filmed 11 people for sexual gratification jailed by judge

Sunderland man Andrew Copeland, 57, used cameras to make 53 still and 145 moving images of his victims.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Copeland gave the files a range of sexualised names including ‘pornstar’, degrading the unsuspecting targets of his behaviour further.

Steven Reed, prosecuting said the number of victims and the duration of the offending added to the seriousness of the offence.

Mr Reed said Copeland's victims "feel violated". He read one victim impact statement out to the court in which the woman said: "I hated my life because of him."

She added: "He ruined my life and I cannot change what happened.

"I just need this to be over as soon as possible so I can move on from it.

"Hopefully I can start again when this is all over and get back to the happy person I once was."

The court heard that on arrest Copeland admitted installing the cameras but denied it was for sexual purposes.

Police also recovered computers and hard-drives belonging to Copeland on which there was paedophilia.

Jamie Adams, defending said: "Nobody could help but be moved by what has been said in this court.

"Of course their lives have been broken, as they knew their lives, so has his.

"That is not to say in any way that what he did was right."

Mr Adams said people who "knew him to be a good man" had written references for the defendant in which Copeland was described as "hard-working", "always there" and "helping others".

They also noticed a difference in him after his mother became ill and then died, which Mr Adams said he took "very, very badly."

Mr Adams argued that there was no dissemination of the material or a massive volume of images.

He added: "He (the defendant) is going to work and do what ever which is necessary in custody to try and remedy his mindset, that bit about his behaviour in the first place.

"Although it sounds very hollow coming now as it does, he is saying he is sorry for his behaviour."

Copeland, of Dock Street, Sunderland pleaded guilty to one count of voyeurism and three counts of making indecent images of children at earlier hearings.

Mr Recorder Lumley said: "Misery and distress has been caused here.

"I accept you are ashamed by your behaviour. You said you are shameful.

"You could not admit that you had done this for your own sexual gratification but now you do."

Mr Recorder Lumley said the lives of those involved had been turned upside down.

He said: "You have brought these things upon yourself, nobody is to blame.

"None of your victims have done anything wrong."

Copeland was jailed for three years and made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years.