By Damon Wilkinson
A voyeur who filmed a woman in the toilets at Manchester Airport has been put on the sex offenders register. Eric O’Neill hid in a cubicle before filming the victim without her knowledge. He was arrested after the victim saw a camera over the top of the cubicle, confronted him and called for help. In a post on social media the victim described the ‘sickening’ incident which took place in April this year. She wrote how she felt a presence above her, then saw a camera over the top of the cubicle. She described finding the bravery to run out of the cubicle screaming and shouting before she banged on the door of the toilet, confronted O’Neill and took his phone from him. She said passers-by heard the commotion and alerted security before police arrived and detained O’Neill. At Stockport magistrates’ court the 29-year-old, of Delford Drive, Douglas, Cork, Ireland, was given a 16 week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and placed on the sex offenders register for seven years after pleading guilty to voyeurism. He was also ordered to pay £300 compensation and £350 costs. Det Sgt Alex Wild said: “‘I’d like to commend the bravery of this victim for not only coming forward to report what had happened to her to us, but for also confronting O’Neill despite the shocking act which had just occurred and without knowing what he was capable of. This call resulted in an immediate response by officers at the airport, with O’Neill later admitting what he’d done in interview. “I’m confident that both the victim’s account and swift arrest and investigation prevented further incidents occurring. The impact of voyeurism shouldn’t be underestimated – it’s a violation of privacy and can happen at any time, anywhere and to anyone, leaving victims often on edge, even in their own spaces. “The safety of everyone at Manchester Airport is incredibly important, and we won’t tolerate anyone breaching that. We encourage any other victims of this nature to come forward to us. You will be heard, believed and we will act against perpetrators.”