Dangerous voyeur jailed

Crediton man fixated on people sleeping

A 'dangerous' Crediton man has been jailed for nearly 10 years after pleading guilty to sexual offences based around his obsession with watching people sleeping.

Lukasz Grzywna, 30, of Upton Hellions, had previously admitted 13 sexual offences and one drug offence when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court last November. 

Grzywna pleaded guilty to five charges of voyeurism, five of charges of attempting to observe a person in a private act, sexual assault, and knowingly trespassing on a premises with the intention of committing a sexual act and possessing a prohibited image of a child.  

He also pleaded guilty to offering to supply a class B drug. 

He was caught after a father found him in his daughter's bedroom in Crediton in the early hours of the morning in July last year. The dad had been watching television when he heard a noise and went to investigate. Grzywna got out of the house through a window, and was later arrested in a nearby alley.

When police analysed his phone, they found a litany of video and photos, taken as Grzywne enjoyed sexual pleasure by watching people sleeping, or being filmed, unaware, at a distance. Some of the images were graphic. It became clear he had returned to some addresses several times and gained access.

The offences happened over more than a year until he was apprehended.

Prosecutor Brian Fitzherbert said Grzywna started out by filming females on his phone while he peered into the homes. In time, he broke into some places, and filmed himself masturbating.

Investigators found evidence on his phone, including videos relating to sexual assault and voyeurism and messages about drug supply, that led to the further charge being made. 

He was sentenced to nine years and eight months, will serve three years on extended licence and has to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life. He was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order on release.

Judge Edward Burgess said: "It hardly needs me to say but this is an extremely serious and worrying case and you have shown yourself through various offences committed over a protracted period of time to be a cunning, calculated, sexual predator."

He continued: "I'm in no doubt you are, in very real terms, a highly dangerous individual."

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Becky Carvell said: “We welcome the sentence passed down today and my thoughts, as they have been throughout the investigation and court process, are with those affected by Lukasz Grzywna’s actions.

“We would encourage anyone who has been subject to similar behaviour to report it. You will be listened to, and you will be believed.”