Abergavenny woman jailed for voyeurism and sex offences

A convicted sex offender from Abergavenny has been sent to prison after taking secret photographs of a woman and sending them to her former partner for his sexual pleasure.

Michelle House, 53, of St David’s Road in Abergavenny, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court charged with voyeurism following her arrest in January this year.

The case came to light when police attended House’s ex-partner’s home on January 4 and discovered pictures of a woman “in a state of undress” on his phone. The victim appeared to have been completely unaware the images were being taken.

House was identified as the person who had sent the images and was arrested that same day. Officers seized her phone, tablet and laptop, and a forensic examination confirmed the pictures had been taken using House’s mobile phone.

During her interview the following day, House admitted taking the images and sending them to her ex-partner for his sexual gratification. She told officers she had “done it out of love” for her ex-partner, and that he would view the images on his phone whilst she gave him oral sex.

The court heard House had been taking and sending the covert images over a five-month period dating back to September 2025.

At the time of the offence, House was already subject to a suspended sentence after admitting making, possessing and distributing indecent images of a child. She had been sentenced to 12 months, suspended for two years, at Newport Crown Court on March 31 last year.

Alice Sykes, representing House, told the court the defendant’s best mitigation was her guilty plea. “She accepted responsibility from the outset,” she said.

Ms Sykes explained House had engaged well with her previous suspended sentence, having already completed all of her 200 hours of unpaid work and 13 of the 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Judge Paul Thomas KC addressed House directly, saying: “Last year you were placed under a suspended sentence for offences involving sexual images. I’m afraid not only did you not learn your lesson, but committed what was a particularly disgraceful offence. I cannot find any realistic prospect of rehabilitation here. You have had that chance and not taken advantage of it.”

House was jailed for a total of one year imprisonment, made up of six months for voyeurism and the activation of six months of her suspended sentence. The defendant must register as a sex offender for 10 years.