A woman was horrified to discover that a ‘trusted neighbour’ had broken into her home and rifled through her knicker drawer while she and her husband were away.
Sharon Bulman, 45, from Skelton, North Yorkshire, hid a secret camera in an owl cushion in her bedroom after growing suspicious that an intruder was getting into her home.
The hairdresser watched the footage in disgust as she saw good friend Steve Gill, 49, walking into her home and rummage through her belongings before committing a sex act with one of her pop socks.
Married HGV driver Gill had become friendly with Sharon and her firefighter husband James after they had moved into their three-storey townhouse seven years ago.
Gil offered to do odd jobs and look after their daughter if they were out.
But 18 months ago, Bulman became suspicious about his reasons for being helpful.
He had created a copy of a spare key given to him while they went away on holiday and used this to access their property when they were out.
Mrs Bulman, a successful amateur runner, said that Gill had invaded her family’s privacy in “the worst possible way.”
Gill admitting burglary and stalking, but dodged prison because he had never been in trouble before and being locked up would have an impact on his two sons and mother.
The court heard that his wife is standing by him. She was in the public gallery, and was one of a number of family and friends to write a letter of support for the judge to read.
He was given a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, ordered to go on a sex offenders’ treatment programme, do 150 hours of unpaid work, pay £200 costs and £500 compensation to Sharon.