Convicted sex offender avoids jail after admitting voyeurism charge
Last updated 9th Sep 2024
A convicted sex offender who installed a secret camera in a changing area at a farm near Kelso so he could watch a female employee undressing has avoided a custodial sentence.
Raymond Hay, from St Boswells, previously pled guilty to a charge of voyeurism at the workplace where he was employed as a manager on September the 28th, 2022.
Jedburgh Sheriff Court today (Monday) heard the 61-year-old's depraved attempts to capture the woman had been unsuccessful - with no illicit material recovered on any of the devices or memory card seized by police.
Hay had initially denied the offence after being challenged by colleagues. His solicitor, Ed Hulme, said his client - who was jailed in 2018 for historic sex crimes, committed when he was in his early 20s - had "panicked".
He also pointed out he would be a "vulnerable prisoner" if jailed, as he required breathing apparatus for his sleep apnea.
Sheriff Peter Paterson warned Hay of the "devastating effect" crimes like this can have on their victims.
He ordered him to carry out 255 hours of unpaid work, and gave him a nine-month home curfew - meaning he has to stay at home between the hours of 7pm and 7am - as a direct alternative to custody.
In addition, Hay, of Weirgate Way, St Boswells, has also had his name added to the Sex Offenders Register for five years.
For more stories from the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland, bookmark our new home page - https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/borders/news/