BA Pilot on Trial for Voyeurism Over Secret Sex Recording
A British Airways pilot has been accused of orchestrating a 'virtual threesome' by secretly filming a flight attendant during sexual activity and sending the footage to a colleague, a court has heard. Tim Capron, aged 38, is facing a single charge of voyeurism, with prosecutors alleging he deliberately recorded the complainant without her consent to share with another BA pilot, Steven Farnworth.
Details of the Alleged Incident
The jury at Reading Crown Court was told that the incident occurred during a consensual sexual encounter in September 2021. According to the prosecution, Capron took a photograph and filmed two videos of the complainant, who was blindfolded at the time, while using a paddle to spank her. The videos, lasting 11 and 19 seconds respectively, were subsequently sent to Farnworth, whom Capron described as a sexual partner with whom he enjoyed threesomes.
Prosecutor Jane Davies stated in her closing speech that the defendant had planned the recording in advance. She emphasised that Capron ensured the scene was set for secrecy, specifically waiting until the complainant was blindfolded to avoid her knowledge or consent. Davies argued this was a deliberate act to facilitate what she termed a 'virtual threesome' for the gratification of Capron and Farnworth.
Defence and Prosecution Arguments
Capron, who denies the voyeurism charge, acknowledges that the complainant did not consent to being recorded and admits he never asked for her permission. However, his defence contends that he did not know she would object, pointing to previous messages where they discussed themes like 'whips, restraints, and dominance' before meeting. The pair had connected on the dating app Tinder, and messages revealed Capron's interest in what he called 'consensual rape' and 'double penetration', to which the complainant had responded was 'beyond my limits'.
Prosecutors dismissed this defence as 'absurd', asserting that Capron's assumptions about consent were illogical and self-serving. Davies described the Oxford-educated pilot as 'egocentric' and 'selfish', alleging he based decisions on his own desires without regard for the complainant's wishes. She highlighted post-incident messages where Capron referred to the complainant in derogatory terms, which she said demonstrated 'arrogant misogyny'.
Legal Proceedings and Character References
Defence barrister Jenni Dempster KC argued that Capron is a man of good character, aside from a prior conviction for extreme pornography in August 2023, which resulted in a six-month conditional discharge. She urged the jury to focus solely on whether Capron knew the complainant was not consenting, rather than making moral judgments about his sex life. Dempster stressed that the trial is 'not a court of morals' and that disapproval of his actions should not influence the verdict.
The trial continues as the jury deliberates on the central issue of consent and knowledge in this high-profile case involving aviation professionals.
