Kurtis Mawson 24

Description

A sex offender who filmed women using a public toilet is facing a lengthy prison sentence over his repeated "bizarre and troubling" voyeuristic activities.

Kurtis Mawson, now 24, was given a 25-month prison sentence at Durham Crown Court on March 1, last year, for offences committed in 2022 and 2023.

These included performing a sex act on himself in public while standing behind a female tourist taking a photo of Durham Cathedral and covertly filming women using a public toilet next to The Odeon Cinema in the city.

He was back before the court yesterday (Tuesday July 22) after admitting a further charge of voyeurism, in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which was put in place at the previous sentencing hearing, designed to help to curb his activities.

The new offences followed his arrest for again using a mobile phone to film people in female public toilets in Durham, on Saturday June 21, this year, during the licence period of the last sentence.

At the outset of what was to have been Mawson's latest sentencing hearing at the court, Robert Mochrie, representing the defendant, requested an update to a previous psychiatric report.

Mr Mochrie said the outcome may have an impact on the sentence passed on the defendant.

"His offending is so bizarre and troubling and a view has been taken that somebody needs to take a look at this."

Recorder Bryan Cox KC agreed to the request and said: "On the face of it, he's looking at a substantial custodial sentence."

Addressing Mawson, formerly of Willington, but appearing by video link to court from Holme House Prison, near Stockton, Recorder Cox told him: "I'm going to adjourn your case until September so that you can see a psychiatrist who will update a previous report on you.

"Co-operate with that psychiatrist in the preparation of that report.

"We'll see you back at this court for sentence on September 5 and, in the meantime, you will remain in custody."