A British Airways pilot has been cleared of voyeurism after filming a sexual encounter with a flight attendant and sharing the footage with another pilot. Tim Capron, 38, was acquitted by a jury at Reading Crown Court following a three-day trial.
The court heard that Capron met the woman on Tinder and on their second date asked her to wear a blindfold and spanked her with a paddle. He then took a photograph and two videos, which he sent to fellow BA pilot Steven Farnworth, describing him as a 'sexual partner' with whom he enjoyed threesomes. Prosecutors alleged Capron knew the woman did not consent and sought to involve her in a 'virtual threesome' without her knowledge.
Capron testified that he believed the woman would have consented, citing their discussions about 'whips, restraints and dominance' before meeting. He said he thought she would enjoy the 'positive affirmation' of seeing Farnworth's response, which was 'Fan dabby dozey'. He added: 'I thought this behaviour would be ok... I have to live with that mistake for the rest of my life.'
Defence barrister Jenni Dempster KC argued the case was not about morals but whether Capron knew the woman was not consenting. She said there was 'a world of difference between making a gross error of judgment and being a sex offender'. The jury of seven men and five women deliberated for five hours before returning the not guilty verdict.
Capron had been arrested in September 2021 and later convicted of possessing extreme pornography, for which he received a conditional discharge. He was suspended by BA on full pay in December 2023. A previous trial in July 2024 ended with a hung jury, leading to the retrial.
