Paedophile CCTV operator spied on children at park

Anthony East had worked for Brighton and Hove City Council for ten years when concerns were raised last summer.

There were fears that he was zooming in at children playing at The Level, with no good reason or justification for doing so.

He was meant to use the cameras for managing the traffic.

Police investigated, and found the 68-year-old in possession of more than 2,000 sick images of children.

It included indecent images of the “most serious nature”, officers said.

They said that there was no evidence he had abused any children locally.

When he appeared at Hove Crown Court he admitted all the offences against him, and was jailed for 16 months.

Detective Chief Inspector Pierre Serra said: “The indecent images were found on his home computer system and were unrelated to his work.

“All came from the internet, and there is no evidence that any were of local children.”

East, of Balcombe Road in Peacehaven, will now be a registered sex offender for life, and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also imposed, which will restrict his access to children once he leaves prison.

Following his case, Brighton and Hove City Council confirmed that the offences for which he was convicted did not happen while he was at work.

He held a Security Industry Authority Licence to work as a front line CCTV operator, and a criminal records check was carried out as part of the licence process.

The council said: “Concerns were identified by the Police in July last year whilst East was at work. He was arrested immediately and suspended from work. Following a disciplinary hearing he was dismissed.

“The CCTV activities of council officers can be monitored by the police and in this case swift immediate action was taken.

“Anthony East is a former employee of the council. He did not view illegal material at work, the evidence was found on devices at his home address.

“He was immediately dismissed from the council following an internal investigation at the time of his arrest.”