Police 'used helicopters to film people having sex and sunbathing naked'

The crew of a police helicopter used the aircraft to secretly film naturists on a campsite, naked sunbathers, and even a couple having sex in their garden, a jury has heard.

The trial, which is currently taking place at Sheffield Crown Court, has seen two South Yorkshire Police officers and two pilots accused of misconduct in a public office.

Matthew Lucas, 42, Lee Walls, 47, Matthew Loosemore, 45, and Malcolm Reeves, 64, have all denied the offence.

Prosecutor Richard Wright QC told the Jury: ‘They used the unique viewing position afforded to them, together with the powerful video camera with which the helicopter is equipped, to video members of the public engaged in private activities in a gross violation of their privacy.

‘On three separate occasions they filmed a total of five people sunbathing naked in private and, on another occasion, they filmed a couple having sexual intercourse in their own garden.’

The jury was also shown footage from 2008 of a couple having sex on the patio of their home – with the woman appearing to wave at the helicopter.

It is believed that the couple were swingers and known to Adrian Pogmore, 50, a former police air observer who previously pleaded guilty to the same offence that the four men stand accused of.

For their part, the other four men have denied that they were involved in Pogmore’s offences, with prosecutor Richard Wright claiming that they blame him ‘in short’ for what happened.

The court also heard from a woman who was unaware she was being filmed, and described the filming as ‘a complete and utter violation of my privacy’.

She added: ‘It makes me feel sick to think that this took place.’

The trial continues.