26.10.12
Two separate incidents of alleged voyeurism have occurred at The Edge gym on the same day.
An eyewitness has told Leeds Student that at approximately 5pm on Tuesday October 23, a girl fled her changing room in The Edge after noticing a hand holding a mobile phone coming from the adjoining cubicle.
A swimming pool lifeguard was alerted and University security was called.
This paper has heard how the perpetrator locked himself in his cubicle and refused to come out, telling security he was naked.
Having attempted to escape from the back of the cubical, the voyeur eventually emerged and was taken away by security.
The incident occurred in The Edge’s ‘village style’ changing area, which is open to both male and female users.
A University spokesperson told Leeds Student “We can confirm that two incidents of alleged voyeurism took place in The Edge this week. Staff quickly dealt with both situations and, as a result, one arrest was made. Police are still seeking a man in connection with the first incident.”
The eyewitness told this paper “It’s really scary to think that this could happen on University property. I always thought having a unisex changing rooms was odd, and I’m sure it puts some girls off using the facilities. Now I’m convinced it’s irresponsible to let this situation continue.”
She added “I think the University should use the money it received from hosting the Chinese Olympic Team over the summer to create more single sex changing rooms and protect others from having this happen to them in the future.”
This is not the first incident of voyeurism in the University’s gym. In August, Declan Crosbie, from Lea Farm Place, Leeds, was also caught peering over cubicles whilst members of the Chinese female Olympic swimming team were getting changed.
A court heard how Crosbie hid in the cubicle when reprimanded and attempted to mimic a woman’s voice.
In September, Crosbie was given a three-year community order and banned from female changing rooms and toilets.
The University was keen to emphasise that these incidents are rare and told Leeds Student “the security and wellbeing of our customers is paramount and as a matter of urgency we are looking at how we can further improve the safety of our changing areas.”
It added “The swimming pool changing area is checked every 15 minutes by our staff, and University security visits to The Edge have been increased”.
Lucy Snow
Photo: Leo Garbutt