A man who thrust his head beneath changing room doors to spy on women who were "topless" has been sentenced. Yehia Elgamal peered under the gap of unisex changing facilities at Stockton Splash, a Tees Active facility.
The then "immature" 19-year-old watched two women who were in a "state of undress" on two separate occasions. Elgamal, of Shaftesbury Street in Stockton, denied both offences of observing a person doing a private act contrary to section 67 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and stood trial at Teesside Crown Court earlier this year.
Guilty verdict and victim impact
The now 21-year-old was found guilty on both counts and appeared at the Middlesbrough court on Thursday to be sentenced. Both women submitted victim impact statements to the Crown Prosecution Service.
One woman described how the incident left her feeling "furious", as Elgamal 'invaded her privacy and made her feel unsafe'. She also revealed she suffered panic attacks in the aftermath and now feels uncomfortable using public cubicles.
The second victim stated that she felt 'shocked, violated, exposed and humiliated'. She too now avoids public showers following the incident, reports Teesside Live.
Defence and sentencing
Michelle Turner, speaking in mitigation, said her client is a young man who had lived overseas for a period of time, leading a "restricted" life. He subsequently returned to the UK to a "different society" and experienced a "degree of loneliness in the build up to these offences".
The defence barrister noted that there had been no subsequent offending and Elgamal possessed no prior convictions. "There has been some degree of growing up and maturity," Ms Turner said.
Judge Armstrong informed Elgamal that as he was found guilty following a trial, he could not offer credit or reduce any sentence. He stated that while there was no physical sexual assault, it represented an "invasion of a private space" and in his view, "the same as if there had been touching".
Court orders and restrictions
The court was told that Elgamal is "unable to admit what he did" with references to "immaturity" and "distorted thinking". Elgamal received a 12-month community order alongside 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days, 250 hours of unpaid work and is subject to notification requirements for five years.
He was additionally given a five-year restraining order preventing him from contacting both women and barred from entering the Tees Active leisure centres for five years.
