Rapist Who Filmed Women and Children Caged

A sexual predator who raped a teenager and spied on his female neighbours with secret cameras has been jailed indefinitely. Judge Mark Horton said Anthony Batchelor, 33, posed a serious threat to woman and children.

Sentencing Batchelor at Gloucester Crown Court he said: "There is absolutely no doubt that you represent a significant risk to the public of serious personal injury both sexual and in terms of violence.

He said it was clear Batchelor suffered from a "deep sexual disturbance". A psychiatrist who examined him had branded him "a prolific sexual offender".

The court heard how Batchelor, of Coney Hill Road, subjected his victims to a series of horrifying attacks over an eight-year period.
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Batchelor had admitted a total of 14 offences. These included the rape, false imprisonment and assault causing actual bodily harm of a 17-year-old girl in September 2005.

He also admitted three offences of voyeurism, one of trespassing with intent to commit voyeurism in 2007, four charges of taking indecent photos of children, possession of an indecent video of a child and two charges of burglary.

Ray Tully, prosecuting said Batchelor's voyeurism and sexual abuse included breaking into his female neighbours' houses to spy on them using secret cameras and setting up a camera in his own bathroom to film friends and relatives.

Mr Tully said the first incident involved Batchelor putting a camera under the changing room doors at a public swimming pool and filmed women and children undressing.

Batchelor went on to commit a wide variety of sex offences, many against women he met on internet dating sites.

Batchelor, who filmed a neighbour's partner sunbathing naked, was caught out by a coin-shaped spy hole in the roof of their home.

Police who examined Batchelor's computer found damning footage he had taken just before raping a young woman at knifepoint and threatening her with red-hot hair straigteners .

Officers also found clips of him setting up a spy camera by his lavatory to film four women.

As the extent of Batchelor's depravity became clear during last year's investigation the police decided to interview his former girlfriends and sexual partners, said Mr Tully.

He said the most serious charge against Batchelor was the rape of a 17-year-old girl.

"She was subjected to what must have been a quite terrifying attack on such a young woman," Mr Tully said. "She says she was kept in his bedroom against her will. During the course of this episode she says there was a knifepoint attack. She was made to don a dress by this defendant, who then cut it from her with the knife."

Paul Grumbar, defending, asked the court to give Batchelor full credit for admitting all the offences and sparing the victims from having to give evidence.

Mr Grumber conceded there were "deviant elements" to the case but he asked the court to remember that only one of the victims had come to any physical harm.

"His voyeurism offences are unusual, they are kinky, they are no doubt unpleasant," he said. "But these images were not published or broadcast. They are odd but they were, it would seem, for his own use.

"Far from being a beast, this defendant is extremely vulnerable ? from time to time suicidal ? almost permanently tearful and thoroughly inadequate.

"He is a wimpering wreck, I would submit, rather than a predator. He is a fantastist and a voyeur. He is vulnerable and pathetic."

Batchelor was sentenced to an indeterminate sentence.

He can be considered for release after three years and nine months, but will be freed only if an expert parole panel deems he is no longer a threat.

Gloucestershire police welcomed the sentencing.

Det Insp Mark Chicken said: "We are pleased that the sentence handed out today means that he is where he should be, behind bars, and likely to stay there for a considerable period of time."

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