Blackpool child rapist tried to use secret Nintendo DS camera to record people on toilet two months after release

Callum Johnson, 18, had been released from a young offenders’ institution in January 2018 and was living in supported accommodation on Percy Street when he planted his Nintendo DS games console in the bathroom, hoping to record members of staff.

At his sentencing at Preston Crown Court on Monday, prosecutor Francis McEntee said: “On March 5 at 10.30am, a member of staff noticed the defendant going in and out of the bathroom repeatedly.

“Her interest was raised and so she went into the bathroom to check. She noticed hidden behind some toilet rolls was the defendant’s blue Nintendo DS.

“She picked it up and noticed it was actually recording. The angle was such that if she had used the toilet, it would have recorded her doing so.”

The staff member confronted Johnson, who denied planting the games console.

But his web of lies unravelled when the video recording was examined by police – and clearly showed him hiding the DS in the bathroom.

A picture of a male –possibly under age – performing a sexual act was also found on the DS, but no charges were brought against Johnson in relation to it.

While Mr McEntee said in court he “could not fathom” the decision not to prosecute over the discovery, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has since explained why it was unable to press charges.

Sue McNamara, of CPS North West, said after the hearing: “This image was carefully considered as part of the ongoing review of the case that the Crown Prosecution Service is required to do with all prosecutions.

“It was not possible to determine the identity of the person performing the act in the image or if that person was under 18. Therefore it was not possible to establish if an offence had taken place.

“Therefore, the CPS took the decision that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of a conviction in relation to this and no further action was taken.”

The court heard how, in 2015, Johnson was convicted of three counts of child rape, and one count of inciting a child to commit a sex act with another child, who was just seven-years-old.

He was sentenced to six years in a young offenders’ institution, and was released on licence two years later. He will now return to prison to serve the rest of his original sentence.

Jon Close, defending, said: “Johnson presents as a man with some difficulties. He presents with anxiety and paranoia. He has not showered in four weeks.

“He is still very young, and the length of time he has spent in custody for one so young is considerable. He’s currently 18. He will have spent almost a third of his young life in custody by the time of his release in 2021.”

Johnson pleaded guilty to voyeurism.

Sentencing him to three months in a young offenders’ institution, to run concurrently with his existing sentence, Judge Paul Reid said: “I hope for your sake you’re getting some help to address these problems, because otherwise one suspects that there may be more trouble when you are released.”