School caretaker who hid camera in toilet is jailed

Police discover 76 videos and almost 147,000 still images on device concealed in loo roll

Matthew Stupples, 42, has been jailed for hiding a camera inside a female adult toilet at the primary school where he worked in Wimbledon, southwest London. ( SWNS)

A school caretaker who hid a camera in the female toilets where he worked has been jailed.

Matthew Stupples, 42, lived on site at Wimbledon Park Primary School, in southwest London, where he worked as a caretaker and handyman for almost 15 years.

However in August last year, workers at the school discovered a micro-camera hidden inside a loo roll in a female adult toilet in a wing of the school.

Stupples had attached a handwritten note to the adjoining cubicle, stating that it was out of order and directing women into the toilet that was being filmed.

When police searched his house, they discovered a huge cache of videos and still images which revealed the caretaker had recorded more than 50 instances of people using the school toilet.

On one occasion, images also showed an adult helping a child to use the toilet.

Stupples, who has lost his job and his home since his deception came to light, pleaded guilty to four counts of voyeurism and one count of taking an indecent photo of a child.

He was sentenced to 33 months in prison, half of which will be served in custody.

A judge also handed him a five-year sexual harm prevention order alongside a five-year restraining order.

Almost a year later, it emerged Stupples had also previously used the same camera to film two women showering in the bathroom at his home on the school grounds.

Michael Tanner, prosecuting, said: “The police initially were contacted by the manager of a sports academy which had hired the school facilities for the day.

General view of Wimbledon Park Primary School in southwest London. (Google)

“He told officers that a member of staff had found a small camera attached to the toilet roll holder in the female lavatories of Wimbledon Park School.

“Another member of the academy staff went in and detached the camera, which was eventually forwarded to the police.

“In that particular lavatory there were two cubicles and on the Saturday that the camera was recovered, one had been locked.

“The effect of that was that the cubicle which had the camera was the only one which could be used that day.”

Stupples was arrested and interviewed by police, but refused to cooperate with officers or answer any questions.

However he had inadvertently recorded his own face “very clearly” on the device while installing it.

Investigators discovered the camera contained 76 videos and almost 147,000 still frames – many of which were taken from those video recordings.

Mr Tanner added: “Some of the images show Mr Stupples very clearly installing the camera in the toilet. His face is very clearly visible.”

In an emotional hearing at Kingston Crown Court, one of the women accused the caretaker of betraying her trust with his “unthinkable” actions.

Wiping away tears, she said: She said: “When I found out that he had taken images of me, I felt violated and disgusted. To do this is unthinkable and inexcusable.

“When I’m reminded that he used these images for his sexual gratification, I feel my stomach turn. I fear seeing my body appear on the internet or on television.

“There hasn’t been a day after seeing those images that I have felt normal. I would never wish this on anyone.”

Andrew Foreman, defending Stupples, said that his client had acknowledged his culpability by pleading guilty, and pointed out that he had – until now – been considered of good character.

Stupples was sentenced to nearly three years in prison – half of which will be served on licence.

He will also be put on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life, preventing him from working with children again, and ordered to pay a victims’ surcharge of £181.

SWNS conributed to this report