Upskirting victim 'put off having baby' after incident at Porton Down

Gregory Bransgrove took 10 photos of the woman from underneath a neighbouring cubicle as she put on official safety clothes at Porton Biopharma.

When confronted, the 28-year-old senior technician insisted he'd 'dropped his phone' and was picking it up when she spotted it underneath the partition.

Read more: Salisbury man in court for 'upskirting' at Porton Down

But he has now pleaded guilty to voyeurism and been handed a three-year community service order by magistrates.

His victim, who cannot be named, told the court how she was so appalled by the behaviour of 'repulsive creature' Bransgrove that she had delayed having a baby.

"He had no right to do such a disgusting, cruel and vile thing," she said in a victim impact statement. "My partner and I had the news that we could start IVF but I was not in the right state of mind.

"I had been waiting five years for this, but how could I bring in a life to the world when it is full of repulsive creatures like Greg? The incident has stopped my life."

Gregory Bransgrove. Picture by Solent News

The court heard Bransgrove and his victim worked together at the Porton Down site near Salisbury.

The high security base is the home of Porton Biopharma, the company which Bransgrove and his female victim both worked for, which is run by Public Health England and develops 'life saving biopharmaceutical therapeutics and vaccines'.

Outlining the incident, prosecutor Ryan Seneviratne told Salisbury Magistrates Court: "Mr Bransgrove took some photos of [his female colleague] on his mobile phone whilst they were both getting changed. She was in her underwear.

"They changed into official clothing they have to wear before going to work. There are individual cubicles to change into. Mr Bransgrove enters one and [his female colleague] enters the one next to him.

"Whilst she was changing, [the female colleague] noticed his mobile phone camera [underneath the cubicle partition].

"She was wearing a pyjama top and underwear. She challenged him immediately, saying, 'What are you doing? You better not have taken a photo of me'.

"He mumbled 'No' in reply. She escalated the matter immediately.

"Mr Bransgrove said the mobile phone fell out of his trouser pocket as he was changing – and he managed to catch it as it fell to the ground."

Though Bransgrove had deleted them from his mobile, police were able to recover the images he took.

He was immediately suspended from work on full pay, but resigned five months later.

"Mr Bransgrove was suspended from work on the day [of the incident]," Mr Seneviratne continued. "He was later arrested and his mobile phone, laptop and hard drive were seized.

"Police sent his mobile phone for forensic examination, and were able to find there were ten images on the phone [of his female colleague].

"All of these ten images had been deleted from the memory card, but could be found by forensic examination and matched with the date and time [of the offence].

"[This was] completely contrary to what he had told the police in his explanation. He was re-arrested and the images were put to him."

The court also heard a victim impact statement from her in which she explained how Bransgrove's 'vile' and 'disgusting' actions had affected her.

The statement read: "The actions of Gregory Bransgrove have greatly affected my life.

"I am unable to go into a changing room at work without [remembering what happened].

"At work I struggle to do my job. I am conscious about my body and lack confidence in my appearance. This should never have crossed his mind."

Lead Magistrate Sarah Neish sentenced Bransgrove to a 36-month community order and ordered him to pay a total of £480 in fines and costs.

Included in the costs was £300 in compensation to be paid to his former colleague.

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