‘Peeping Tom’ filmed woman in bathroom

Married grandfather-of-three Peter Van Parys filmed a woman with a secret camera as she had a bath, it has been revealed.

Van Parys, 47, a former treasurer and long-standing member of Grimsargh Players, was arrested earlier this year, after a resident complained he had been exposing himself from a window at his home in Fulwood.

Police seized his computer and found video from a camera hidden in the bathroom of a house in Fulwood.

Van Parys had three clips of a woman – who is not a relative – having a bath.

He is now facing sentence after pleading guilty to four offences of exposure and three counts of voyeurism at Preston Crown Court. He will next appear in court on December 16.

Van Parys worked for the police force, was a school governor, volunteered for an autism charity and starred in several amateur dramatic productions.

The dad-of-four has been sacked from his job as a senior IT specialist for Lancashire Police – a position he had held for more than 20 years.

It is understood he resigned from his role as a foundation governor for St Clare’s RC Primary School in Fulwood, Preston, in the summer while the investigation was going on.

He was also an officer of the Preston branch of the National Autistic Society until recently. But he did not stand for re-election at a meeting in October.

He was a member of the St Gregory’s drama group, and joined the Grimsargh Players amateur dramatics group more than 20 years ago.

A source at Grimsargh Players said members were all “totally shocked” by the revelations.

Det Insp Dave McKenna, of Preston CID, said: “This was a robust response in relation to a serious complaint from a member of the public, and we are happy that justice has been served.”

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “Mr Van Parys worked at Lancashire Constabulary HQ in the ICT Department. He was arrested in April this year, and after he was charged with indecent exposure and voyeurism, he was suspended. He was dismissed from the Constabulary in August.

“Lancashire Constabulary will not accept any type of criminal activity committed by our staff.

“By committing these offences Mr Van Parys has lost his career. It is disappointing that one of our employees has acted in such a way in his private life and it is right and proper that he faces the consequences of his actions.

“His behaviour should in no way detract from all the fantastic work delivered on a daily basis by the overwhelming majority of staff in the Constabulary, who have a genuine pride in the jobs that they perform.”

Christine Walker, National Autistic Society branch officer for Preston said: “Peter Van Parys was a branch officer for the National Autistic Society in Preston from October 2008 until June 2010.

“Prior to being given this post, he cleared an enhanced CRB check. Since these allegations came to pass, he has stepped down from his role.“