An Ashford computer repairer – who stashed a secret mini camera in a woman’s bathroom – has been told by a judge: “There’s no fool like an old fool!”

Pensioner Sydney Berry, 67, claimed he hid the spy camera in a medicine box as a joke.

But he was told by Judge James O’Mahony: “It wasn’t a joke then and it’s not a joke now.

"This was sexual and you humiliated your victim.”

He gave wheelchair-bound Berry a three month jail sentence but suspended it for two years and ordered him to stay away from his victim indefinitely.

A jury at Canterbury Crown Court had rejected Berry’s claim he did it as a joke and convicted him of voyeurism. He will now have to sign the Sex Offender’s Register.

Berry of Butt Field Road, Singleton – who denied the charge – said it wasn’t done for sexual reasons, claiming he is impotent.

His barrister Fiona Ryan said that after the jury’s verdict Berry’s partner had contemplated leaving him – but has decided to stay.

She said that because of the publicity she was reluctant to leave their home and had suffered as a result.

But the judge said: “Well whose fault is that?”

Ms Ryan replied: “Well obviously Mr Berry’s.”

"I don’t wish to insult you, and I am old myself, so I might be forgiven for saying there is no fool like an old fool” - Judge James O’Mahony

She said he accepted he had been foolish, now expressed remorse and wanted to apologise to his victim.

The defence lawyer said he was grateful of his partner’s continued support and now wanted to make up for the humiliation he had caused.

Prosecutor Alastair Walker said: “The allegation of voyeurism involves the installation of camera equipment by the defendant into the victim’s bathroom so that he could watch her showering.

“She turned on the shower but she found the box, which had once contained medication, and she noticed a shiny black spot on the side.

“She looked inside and found the camera which was operating and she was horrified. She could see a little blue light flashing.”

Mr Walker said she threw the camera in the bin and covered it with her pyjamas before retrieving the secret device later and taking it to a friend’s house.

The jury were shown two videos which were on the camera showing Berry positioning the camera so it would record anyone in the bath.

When the victim later confronted Berry about the camera he claimed he had planted it there secretly “because he was curious”.

Berry, who wasn’t in a wheelchair at the time of the incident, told the jury he had stashed the device – which cost £8 and could record video and still images – “to wind her up”.

After being confronted by the victim and her friend he told the jury: “They called me a pervert”, but added: “This wasn’t a sexual thing. I can’t have sex with anyone.”

And he denied being “curious to see what she looked like without her clothing”.

The judge told him: “Your own counsel’s words were you were very foolish.

"I don’t wish to insult you, and I am old myself, so I might be forgiven for saying there is no fool like an old fool!”

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