September 27th 2024.
Robert Holden, a former councillor, has been sentenced to six years and two months in jail for secretly filming women in their bedrooms and bathrooms for over 15 years. In a shocking revelation, it was uncovered that Holden had been using hidden cameras to record 28 women, some of whom were recorded for more than 12 years.
During his trial at Bradford Crown Court, emotional statements from the victims were read, describing how Holden's actions had left them feeling violated, disgusted, and mortified. Some even stated that his "perverted fetish" had completely ruined their lives. Judge Sophie McKone called Holden's actions "voyeurism on a vast scale" and was appalled to learn that there were hundreds of recordings of intimate moments such as women taking showers, engaging in sexual activities, and even using the toilet.
The court heard that Holden had recorded one of his victims for a staggering 12 years, and the judge went through each victim's experience, describing in detail how Holden had filmed them in every aspect of their lives. One woman, who was only 16 at the time, was recorded while showering. Another victim, who was recorded "on countless occasions," was even filmed with her very young daughter. It was later discovered that Holden had also recorded the victim's mother. Holden, who was a member of the Conservative Party and later an independent member of Calderdale Council, had betrayed the trust of those he served.
Judge McKone noted that Holden had neatly organized the recordings on his devices, indicating that this was not an impulsive act. She also mentioned that Holden had sought comfort from some of the victims after his arrest and attempted suicide, only for them to find out later that he had also recorded them. She called his actions "voyeurism on a vast scale" and "a gross breach of trust."
After his crimes were discovered, Holden fled to South Africa to avoid prosecution. Judge McKone stated that it was hard to think of a worse betrayal of trust, and she referred to Holden's own words where he admitted to doing it for a "cheap thrill," but could not explain why he did what he did. She described him as "depraved and selfish" and accused him of hiding behind a veil of respectability.
The victims' personal statements were read in court, and one of them even faced Holden to read her statement in person. She stated that he had "completely violated my privacy and trust" and that she now realized he had groomed her for his own "perverted fetishes." Another victim shared how she was now unable to trust anyone and had become a recluse. A third victim explained how Holden's actions had caused her to lose her children and her job, leaving her life in shambles.
Holden was arrested in 2020 after a woman found a recording device in a bedroom in West Yorkshire. He then fled to Cape Verde, a West African island, but was eventually extradited back to the UK. His attorney, Jane Greenhalgh, read a letter of apology from Holden, stating that he had "abused the trust in the most abhorrent way imaginable" and that he barely recognized himself. She also mentioned that there was no excuse for his behavior and that he expressed his remorse to all those who were affected by his actions.
Greenhalgh stated that Holden's reputation, which was once impeccable due to his years of service as a councillor, was now in tatters. She mentioned that this was punishment in itself for a man of his standing. She also shared that this was a tragic fall from grace for Holden, who will now be remembered for his offenses rather than the good deeds he had done throughout his life. Holden, who ran an IT repair business, had also admitted to seven counts of computer misuse, which involved copying information and images from devices left with him by his customers.
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