Peel man caught slipping phone under changing room wall

Woman spotted blinking light in swimming pool cubicles

A court’s heard a would-be peeping tom from Peel was foiled by the quick thinking of a toddler’s mum in a swimming pool’s changing area.

Thirty-four-year-old Stephen Matthew James Bell of Mourne View appeared before High Bailiff Jayne Hughes at Douglas courthouse.

He admitted one charge of provoking behaviour on 15 November at the Western Swimming Pool on Derby Road in Peel.

Prosecution advocate Hazel Carroon told the hearing a mother and her two-year old daughter were drying off and getting changed when Bell slipped his mobile phone under a cubicle wall.

Spotting the phone, which had a blinking red light, the mum grabbed it and Bell made off.

However, he was identified from items in his phone case and police arrested and interviewed him, only for him to remain silent throughout.

His advocate told the court his client admitted having a sexual interest in women but none whatsoever in children.

Mrs Hughes bailed Bell while a report is prepared by probation workers and he’ll appear again for sentencing on 3 March.