Derbyshire teacher filmed girls in bathroom with secret camera

Russell Singleton was warned by the judge he faces a lengthy jail term

An experienced teacher filmed girls and women using a hidden camera in his bathroom in a "sophisticated" operation over 10 years.

Russell Singleton, of Heanor, Derbyshire, admitted 21 sex offences including sexual activity with a teenager while in a position of trust.

The 56-year-old taught in Alfreton and admitted the catalogue of offences at Nottingham Crown Court.

Police described it as a careful, planned operation.

Singleton was a music and drama teacher at Alfreton Grange Arts College, previously Mortimer Wilson Secondary School, where he worked for 35 years.

His activities came to light after a 16-year-old complained to police about sexual activity with him.

'Abuse of trust'

Police discovered a false wall in his bathroom with a two-way mirror hiding a camera which recorded girls and women using the toilet or shower.

He amassed a haul of 24 videos of women and girls and several hundred pictures over the last 10 years, starting in 2003.

After the case, Det Sgt Toby Fawcett-Greaves said: "This has been a sophisticated and pre-planned way of obtaining indecent images of children for his own sexual gratification which is a clear abuse of his position of trust."

Singleton pleaded guilty to seven charges of sexual activity when he was in a position of trust; nine of taking indecent photographs; two of making indecent photographs and three charges of voyeurism where he has recorded females for his own sexual gratification.

Singleton, of Lawn Close, Heanor, was suspended from his job and has since been dismissed by the school which said it was shocked and dismayed by his behaviour.

He will be sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on 22 April and was warned he faces a lengthy jail term.