Electrician James Denholm Jailed for Secretly Filming Customers, Added to Sex Offenders Register

A 34-year-old electrician named James Denholm was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for icy voyeurism. Denholm recorded numerous individuals, including women in private and intimate moments, by secretly installing recording devices in their homes. Some of his victims were previous partners, while others were customers who had employed him for electrical work. He even recorded in public bathrooms.

Denholm's illicit activities came to light after one victim discovered a recording device hidden beneath her bed in May 2022 and promptly reported the incident to the police. Following this revelation, law enforcement officials unearthed his disturbing collection of evidence, including hard drives, SD cards, laptops, cameras, and mobile phones containing indecent images and videos of children dating back to 2007.

Legal Consequences

In court, Denholm pleaded guilty to multiple charges involving 17 individuals, including voyeurism and stalking. As a result of his malicious behavior, he will be registered as a sex offender indefinitely. Additionally, the court imposed non-harassment orders that prohibit him from contacting or attempting to contact four of his victims. Furthermore, he is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years.

Alison McKenzie, procurator fiscal for Grampian, Highlands and Islands, expressed her strong disapproval and condemnation of Denholm's actions. She emphasized how he had exploited a position of trust to gain access to vulnerable individuals, capturing their private moments in places where they should have felt secure, such as their homes and public restrooms. McKenzie hopes that Denholm's conviction serves as a cautionary tale for others, demonstrating the seriousness with which such crimes are treated.

Impact on Victims

The impact of Denholm's heinous behavior is far-reaching and leaves a lasting impact on his victims. The psychological toll of having their privacy invaded in such a violation manner can be profound. Det Insp Mark Lambley from Police Scotland acknowledged the emotional distress inflicted upon the victims and expressed hope that the sentencing would provide them with some solace. He reiterated the firm stance against sexual crimes of any nature and urged individuals to report any such incidents, regardless of the time elapsed since the event.