This is the face of a ‘sexual predator’ from Redditch who exploited his position as a photographer in order to carry out a string of sex and voyeurism offences.
Steven Liles began working as a freelance photographer and videographer for private events and dance schools across the Midlands after he was made redundant from a previous job.
It was through these roles that he met many of his victims, West Mercia Police said.
The 60-year-old converted his home garage into a photography studio and set up a hidden camera in his office, where he would ask the people he was photographing to change.
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The footage was discovered by police after his devices were seized.
He was later found guilty of three counts of voyeurism during the trial in April. Two of these counts relate to footage of children and the third relates to footage of an adult.
Liles also befriended women with children and exploited his relationship with the mothers to groom and sexually assault the young girls.
He was found guilty of one count of sexual assault on a child under 13 and three counts of sexual activity with a child.
Police said the offences spanned from 2009 to 2019.
Liles, of Weatheroak Close, was jailed for eight years and six months when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, June 26.
Judge Jackson described the sex offender as “a deviant behind a mask”.
He also “targeted and groomed” his victims and branded a “sexual predator and false friend”.
Liles was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) indefinitely, which prohibits him from contacting and having unsupervised contact with children once released from prison. He was also ordered to pay £4,360 in court charges.
Speaking after the case, Detective Sergeant Shelley Aplin, from the Major Investigation Unit, said: “I want to commend the victims for their unwavering courage and patience throughout the entire investigation, which has undoubtedly been extremely difficult for them.
“They have told their story and should hold their heads high. Everyone who has come forward and supported this investigation has helped bring this offender to justice.
“Liles is a predator whose behaviour affected so many lives and caused immense emotional turmoil. It was right that he has been given a lengthy prison sentence.”
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