A WOMAN who had stripped naked in a Clitheroe tanning studio looked down to see a male hand come under the partition, taking photographs of her on a mobile phone.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Garry Robert Kay was challenged by the woman and a member of staff when he came out of his adjoining booth but denied all knowledge.

And the court was told the incident had a lasting affect on the victim, who had nightmares six months later.

Kay, 39, a butcher, of Turner Street, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to voyeurism. He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and made subject to community supervision for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation and £165 costs and put on the Sex Offender Register for seven years.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the woman had gone to the studio in Moor Lane and rented a sun bed.

“She went into the booth and undressed until she was completely naked,” said Miss Allan. “She was about to get on the sun bed when she saw a hand emerging from the booth next door, under the partition. In the hand was a phone and she could see a picture was being taken.”

The woman screamed “Oh my God, have you just taken a picture of me?” She covered herself and asked the woman on the counter to call the police.

“When the defendant eventually came out he acted innocent, as though he didn’t know what was going on,” said Miss Allan. “He produced his mobile when asked and it was the same one that had been under the partition.”

Miss Allan said the victim had been disgusted by what had happened.

“That night she was physically sick at the thought,” said Miss Allan. “In her victim impact statement she tells how she has been worried about bumping into him while out and about, possibly with her children, and on one occasion when she thought she saw him she had a panic attack. She has suffered nightmares and there is always a male in them chasing her.

“She has lost two dress sizes since the incident because she has been off her food,” added Miss Allan.

Kay told police he had not looked at the images and had deleted them immediately.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said it was a moment of madness which had left his client deeply ashamed.

“It was something he did without thinking, on impulse, and he has since been able to think about the impact it has had on the victim. He has instructed me to apologise to her. He realises it was and still is traumatic for her.”