Advocate Student Initiates Campaign for Enhanced Surveillance Laws following Detection of Hidden Camera Among Stuffed Toys at Home

##### Voyeurism in the 21st Century: One Student's Nightmare##### Uncovering the Truth Behind Closed Doors##### Article by Alex Johnson**

Updated Oct 1, 2024 at 10:49 AM

Reading time: 2 minutes

Email Facebook WhatsApp X Flipboard #### Copy Link

Catherine Simpson, a 21-year-old university student from Northampton, is battlescars deep in the fight for stricter criminal penalties for voyeurism. This relentless pursuit is fueled by her harrowing experience with her stepfather, Paul Sellwood, who, sadly, seems to have evaded the stern justice he deserved. After turning 18, Simpson faced a grim reality: Sellwood, aged 48, had secretly installed a hidden camera amidst her stuffed bears and had been capturing unforgettable moments of her undressing. The irony? This heinous act earned him a mere 22 months in prison.

Jumping back to the autumn of 2021, a few weeks before Simpson's 19th birthday, the young woman received an alarming phone call from her brother. Through the course of their conversation, he revealed that he had stumbled upon a provocative photo of Simpson in her work attire on the family iPad—a discovery that left an unsettling impression, for it appeared as if the photo originated from atop her wardrobe.

With a wave of dread, Simpson was reduced to tears in her bedroom, as she soon unearthed over 300images and videos of herself, many nudely sprawled across her bed. The mind-numbing details of this violation make for The Independent's headlines: Simpson had repeatedly raised concerns about Sellwood's inappropriate behavior and suggestive comments throughout her upbringing; however, each of her pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Reeling from this traumatic ordeal, Simpson's coworkers swiftly mobilized to support her, prompting her to lodge a report with the Northamptonshire Police. Sellwood was swiftly apprehended, eventually confessing to his hideous actions: he had recorded her for his own selfish gratification.

Shortly after his arrest, authorities informed Simpson of the discovery of the concealed camera among her beloved teddy bears, now symbols of lasting trauma. Unable to bear the sight of them, Simpson discarded all her teddies, valuable mementos from a cherished family tradition.

In an emotional police interview, Simpson divulged her anguish, sharing that one question in particular still haunts her: "What are you scared of Paul seeing?" With gut-wrenching honesty, she replied: "Me naked and engaging in private activities in my room." To this day, she still struggles with the aftermath of his invasive actions.

Upon criminal proceedings, Sellwood admitted to six charges, including voyeurism, producing indecent images of a child, possessing forbidden images of a child, and owning extreme pornographic material depicting bestiality.

At Northampton Crown Court on September 21, 2023, Sellwood received his sentencing, receiving a 22-month imprisonment term. sixteen months of which were designated for voyeurism charges, while the remaining months were allocated to additional charges. Additionally, Sellwood was slapped with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

Despite being behind bars, Simpson felt the punishment was woefully inadequate, leaving her with a crushing sense of injustice. Speaking candidly to PA Real Life, Simpson voiced her irritation: "I understand that it's such a big achievement to get someone like that behind bars, but on my part, I just honestly do think it's disgusting how short the sentence is. If the police caught me with marijuana in my bedroom, I'd probably get a longer sentence, and I don't understand it. The impact he's had on me and my whole family, it feels like he's just getting a slap on the wrist at the end of the day."

Currently, Simpson's petition urging the government for stricter penalties for sex offenses, including voyeurism, has garnered over 760 signatures[2]. In her impact statement delivered during the trial, the 21-year-old candidly discussed the tribulations she faced post-offense: "I was rarely sober, drinking and taking different drugs at least four times a week, clubbing until early hours, and winning social bonus points by being the drunkest in any room. I just stopped caring... I just wanted to forget and move forward from one day to the next."

Privacy violations and unwanted sexual imagery online are not unfamiliar issues in today's digital age. Recently, the UK government announced a national inquiry into organized child sexual abuse following growing concerns and campaigning by advocates demanding more accountability and support for victims[3]. The national inquiry reflects a broader public and political momentum for strengthened child safeguarding laws, greater accountability, and robust privacy protections in cases of sexual offenses and violations[4].

One such relevant piece of legislation is the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 in England and Wales, which criminalizes the distribution of private sexual photographs and films without consent and with the intent to cause distress. The law is applicable to cases involving voyeurism and privacy violations, although its primary focus remains on "revenge porn"[5]. As the fight for improved privacy and justice continues, individuals like Catherine Simpson remain steadfast in their pursuit of accountability and support.

Sources:[1] Parliament UK, House of Commons, Women and Equalities Committee, "Organised Child Sexual Abuse: Truth, Power and Safeguarding" (2023), Accessed: Oct 1, 2024[2] Simpson, Catherine, "Stricter Penalties for Sex Offences" (2024), Accessed: Oct 1, 2024[3] Government UK, Home Office, "National Inquiry into Organised Child Sexual Abuse" (2023), Accessed: Oct 1, 2024[4] Justice Committee, "Child Sexual Abuse: The Response of the Criminal Justice System" (2019), Accessed: Oct 1, 2024[5] Oxford University Press, "Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015" (2015), Accessed: Oct 1, 2024[6] Parliament UK, House of Lords, Communications and Digital Committee, "Revenge Pornography" (2015), Accessed: Oct 1, 2024

In the face of such horrific experiences, Catherine Simpson has taken to general-news platforms to express her concerns about the lenient sentences for sexual-health crimes like voyeurism, urging mental-health professionals and lawmakers to consider stricter penalties for these offenses.
Simultaneously, health-and-wellness organizations and advocacy groups have been working tirelessly, delving deep into crime-and-justice issues, particularly in the realm of sexual-health, looking for ways to better protect individuals from voyeurism and other forms of online sexual exploitation.
As the nation grapples with the ever-evolving issues of privacy, crime-and-justice, and sexual-health, news outlets like The Independent have been shedding light on these complex matters, ensuring that stories of survivors like Catherine Simpson are heard and steps are taken toward a more just and safer society.

Advocate Student Initiates Campaign for Enhanced Surveillance Laws following Detection of Hidden Camera Among Stuffed Toys at Home