Pervert ex-Gillingham vicar Richard Lee admits spying on girls
A disgraced former Gillingham vicar today admitted spying on and
filming a mother and daughter and two teenage girls in his
parish.
Reverend Richard Lee, 49, pleaded guilty to eight charges of
voyeurism and 18 of making indecent images during a short court
hearing.
Magistrates heard how Lee, who used to officiate at All Saints'
Church in Hempstead before becoming vicar of two churches in
Somerset, installed secret cameras to spy on his unsuspecting
victims.
But the married father-of-two was rumbled when the images were
discovered on his laptop - and the police were alerted.
Officers arrived at the Church of England vicar's home near
Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, and arrested Lee before conducting a
search of the house.
Several computers were seized containing 400 category one images,
84 category one videos - the lowest level of the scale used to
measure their severity.
But Lee also had 51 category two images, three category three
images and four images and one video in category four - the second
highest level.
The images featured a woman and three girls aged under 16.
Lee - who has been suspended by the Church of England - today
appeared at a short hearing at North Somerset Magistrates' Court to
admit the 26 charges.
He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and enter guilty
pleas.
Andrea Edwards, prosecuting, told the court Lee had admitted in
interview that he knew his disgusting behaviour was wrong.
She said: "There is a great abuse of trust in this case.
"He knew that they were wrong but used them for his sexual gratification..." – Andrea Edwards, prosecuting
"During the course of the interview he admitted that the images and
film were for his own sexual gratification.
"He said he had viewed them for himself and he had not shared any
of the images or video."
Lee carried out the offences while working at two Somerset village
churches near Weston-super-Mare - St Augustine's in Locking and St
Mary's in Hutton.
He moved to the area in 2006 from Hempstead alongside his wife, the
Rev Anne Lee, and is now living with his mother in Bodmin,
Cornwall.
Magistrates said the case was too serious for their sentencing
powers and committed Lee to Bristol Crown Court.
Lee, who was granted conditional bail, remained emotionless
throughout the hearing.
He will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on March 3.
11/02/13
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