A FORMER Ruthin man has been jailed for taking hundreds of voyeuristic photos of a woman over several years.

Michael Nicholls, now of Rowton Grange Road in Chapel-En-Le-Frith, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Wednesday for sentencing.

The 47-year-old had admitted a number of offences at a previous hearing; including two of voyeurism by way of recording private acts, one by installing equipment, one offence of outraging public decency, one of operating equipment to record beneath clothing without consent, and one of attempting to record beneath clothing.

Sarah Badrawy, prosecuting, told the court he had developed an infatuation and obsession which led him to fixate on one victim.

The offences came to light when an SD card he'd accidentally dropped was found last year.

When its contents were examined in the hope it could be returned to the owner, footage of the victim using a toilet was found.

The matter was reported to the police and Nicholls was arrested.

Police seized numerous devices and 'many hundreds' of images of the woman were found.

It was discovered that he had hidden cameras at various locations in order to capture images and video of her.

The woman concerned was unaware she had been captured by the devices, and was not aware of Nicholls' sexual interest in her, the court heard.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, she said she felt "angry, stupid and naive," and said the offences had impacted her family.

Ms Badrawy said when interviewed by police, Nicholls admitted the offences.

He told officers he found the woman "attractive and wanted to see her naked for his own sexual gratification."

Simon Mintz, defending, said: "I can't avoid what a profound and serious invasion of privacy these offences represent.

"All of these offences flow from his infatuation with a particular individual.

"He was sexually obsessed. This had been going on for several years.

"It is clearly the highest possible category of voyeurism.

"I must fall back on his immediate and genuine confession and guilty plea."

Judge David Hale told Nicholls: "Your victim has been grievously affected by discovering what you had been doing over a period of years. "She knew nothing of your disgraceful conduct over all that time. "You took secret photos of her using equipment you no doubt acquired for the purpose. "You kept many hundreds of the photos you took. "She will never forget what you did. You have ripped away [her] privacy.

"You have brought total disgrace on yourself."

Nicholls received a total jail term of 41 months across the six charges.

Judge Hale handed him a restraining order prohibiting him from seeing or contacting the victim for life.

The Judge also ordered that he be prohibited from entering Ruthin for five years.