A NEWTOWN voyeur who filmed people in a changing room and possessed thousands of indecent images of children has been spared jail.

Gregory Hanson, 25, of Orchid Walk, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Thursday having previously pleaded guilty to six voyeurism charges and three incident images charges at Welshpool Magistrates' Court last month.

Recorder G Bull QC told Hansen that he should be "thoroughly ashamed of himself" for placing a camera in a changing room to secretly record more than 150 videos for his sexual gratification, with at least one of the victims being under the age of 18.

Hanson was also found with more than 30,000 indecent moving and still and images of children, with victims identified on the pictures as young as one.

However, he was not given a custodial sentence but instead was sentenced to two three-year community orders, to run concurrently, was placed on the sex offenders register for five years, and was given a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

Read more: Newtown voyeur filmed people in changing rooms

Mr Bull QC said: "Some of those photos were particularly unpleasant and show children as young as one in a horrific way."

He also said that sentencing rules meant he would not be able to give him both a prison sentence and a rehabilitative community order, telling Hanson: "You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.

"I am not helped by the pre-sentencing report in this as the probation service says you need help but you also need a long spell in prison.

"I cannot do that even though you deserve it. I give you credit for pleading guilty early, but I am faced by a dilemma and you benefit from it.

"I can pass a community order for three years and that means you can get help.

"I am minded to impose on you a concurrent community sentence for both offences. This will help you get out of your twisted view of children.

"I say that I pass this reluctantly because people will think you need to go to prison."

Hanson was also told to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and was warned that any breach of his community order would result in an instant custodial sentence.

In mitigation, the court was told that Hanson had shown remorse when informed about his victims' impact statements, including their feelings of anger, violation and self-doubt, leading to a mistrust of men and getting changed in public buildings.

Mr Bull QC was also told that Hanson had completed online modules with the Lucy Faithfull Stop it Now Foundation, with a potential place waiting on a longer course should he retain his liberty.