Guilty plea over Larne Leisure Centre incident

Guilty plea over Larne Leisure Centre incident

At Ballymena Magistrates’ Court, Ken Goudie, of Carrickburn Road in Carrickfergus, admitted one count of voyeurism connected to an incident at Larne Leisure Centre in May 2024.

The court heard that Goudie watched a man in the changing rooms for his own sexual gratification. The victim believed a mobile phone had been positioned in a gym bag in a way that the camera pointed directly at him while he was showering and changing.

Victim confronted and restrained the defendant

The victim, a martial arts coach, said he first noticed Goudie staring at him in the showers, which made him uncomfortable. When he moved towards the lockers, he became increasingly concerned after spotting the phone positioned towards him.

When challenged, Goudie allegedly acted strangely and refused to unlock his phone to show whether any images or videos had been taken.

The court was told that when Goudie attempted to destroy the phone and leave the area, the victim restrained him. After gaining control of the device, the victim alerted leisure centre staff and asked them to contact police.

Goudie later tried to exit the building through a fire escape. The victim followed and restrained him outside until officers arrived.

Ongoing anxiety and concerns over phone evidence

In a statement following the conviction, the victim said the incident has had a lasting impact on his mental health.

He said he continues to suffer anxiety due to uncertainty over whether any images or videos were taken or shared online.

Although police seized the phone, the device could not be examined because Goudie refused to provide the PIN. The victim said he was disappointed that more could not be done to extract its contents.

He also stated that the phone remains in police possession after he asked the court not to have it destroyed.

Sentence imposed by the court

Goudie was sentenced to:

• 100 hours of community service
• An 18-month probation order
• Registration on the Sex Offenders Register for five years
• A Sexual Offences Prevention Order for ten years

The court heard that Goudie changed his plea on the final day, a decision the victim said added further stress.

The case highlights the serious consequences of voyeurism offences and the lasting emotional impact such incidents can have on victims.