James Ayoola

James Ayoola, a 30-year-old man from Rydal Walk in Ipswich, Suffolk, was sentenced at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich for committing an act of voyeurism at the Marks & Spencer store in Martlesham. The incident occurred in August 2023 during a night shift when Ayoola, who had been employed at the store for approximately two and a half years, concealed his iPhone inside a sock and placed it in a bathroom bin to record a female colleague using the facilities.

The court heard that the victim, a colleague working alongside Ayoola, entered the disabled bathroom around 3:30am. She noticed the bin had been moved from its usual position and discovered the hidden phone propped up facing the toilet, with a hole cut in the sock for the lens. The device had been recording for just over six minutes. Upon realising she had been filmed, the woman felt extremely unwell and suffered a panic attack. Even two years later, she remained deeply upset by the violation of her privacy.

A manager identified the iPhone as belonging to Ayoola after reviewing other photographs on the device. When confronted as he attempted to leave the store, claiming he felt sick, Ayoola made full admissions during police interviews. The court was told that Ayoola had been battling 'urges' to film people using toilets for years but had resisted until this occasion. There was no evidence of prior similar offences during his employment.

Ayoola pleaded guilty to the charge of voyeurism. In sentencing, the magistrate imposed a two-year community order, requiring him to complete 240 hours of unpaid work and up to 30 days of rehabilitation activities. He was also ordered to pay £750 in compensation to the victim and banned from the Martlesham M&S store for two years. The case was reported by the Ipswich Star, highlighting the profound impact on the victim and Ayoola's long-suppressed impulses.