A joiner has been jailed after smelling, trying on and stealing a client's underwear while working at a property in Ingol, Lancashire. Neil Wilson, 46, was on a job in July when occupants spotted him entering and leaving an upstairs bedroom on security camera.
Though he was only allowed to work downstairs, the footage shows him selecting various bras and items of underwear, before trying them on and stopping to smell them. At one point, Wilson spotted that he was being caught on camera and moved it out of position so he could no longer be seen.
Arrest and admission
He eventually left the house with a pair of underwear as he was interrupted by a plumber who arrived at the property. The victims returned home and reported what had happened to police, leading to his arrest.
"I've done something stupid," Wilson, of Troon Close, Chorley, told officers during his arrest, who found the stolen underwear in his van. He later admitted he tried them on but had allegedly not attempted to steal them. Instead, he claimed he accidentally left them on as the plumber interrupted him upon arrival.
Court sentencing
Wilson pleaded guilty to burglary and theft from a dwelling at Preston Magistrates' Court. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay compensation and costs.
Detective Sergeant Ben Barnes, of the South Residential Burglary Team, said: "Wilson entered an area of a property that he didn't have access to, whilst alone and trusted to complete the work he was hired for. He betrayed that trust.
"I hope he now has time to reflect on his actions, and the victim feels some sense of justice now criminal proceedings have been completed."
Victim's account
The female victim said: "I went upstairs and turned our camera around from the garden to face inside our spare room.
"I am so glad that I did as later that day when I checked the camera, it was triggered eight minutes after I left the house for work that morning.
"We were left sickened to discover that this joiner entered my dressing room and decided to rummage in my ironing basket and in my underwear drawer.
"Sizing up my bras against himself and sniffing all my underwear. He then took his top off and proceeded to try on three bras. He then went into the bathroom and came out naked apart from the bra on and decided to put on my wedding knickers.
"He was disturbed by the plumber turning up, the pervert decided to place the bras back in the drawers, but decided to continue wearing my knickers. My underwear was found in his works van.
"If you are having someone come and work for you make sure someone is home supervising them or get a camera, if I didn't have the camera rolling I would be unaware of his antics and it makes me wonder how many other households he decided to help himself to other people's underwear. Makes my flesh crawl knowing what he got up to."
The victim had employed Wilson only because her regular joiner didn't have a gap in his diary to fit flooring at her home. She has warned women not to leave anyone alone in their house unless they can fully trust them.
