THE perverted owner of a sunbed centre has admitted secretly filming seven unsuspecting women and one naked man after they stripped off to top up their tans.

James Sokolnicki, 26, was caught in the act on April 30 this year - just six weeks after buying Bronzers suntan centre in Queen's Road, Westbourne.

Prosecuting at Bournemouth magistrates court, Justine Gayford said Sokolnicki, who ran the clinic with his mother, had been arrested after quick-thinking client Barbara Roff noticed a red light in her cubicle and discovered a hidden camera.

Sokolnicki of Wimborne Road, Poole, admitted two charges of voyeurism and asked for six similar offences to be taken into consideration between April 21 and April 30.

One of three tapes seized by police showed Sokolnicki setting up the camera, concealing it and adjusting it before filming 21-year-old Miss Roff as she undressed for her session.

Miss Roff from Poole found the camera, concealed under tissues in a rubbish bin, after she had got dressed.

The two other tapes showed six women and one man as they stripped off in a cubicle, unaware they were being watched.

When interviewed by police Sokolnicki said he had been burgled and had set up the camera to catch clients' damaging his sunbeds.

Later he admitted filming clients "for his own sexual gratification" during a three-week period.

Defending, Andrew Lily said Sokolnicki had "inherited a lot of the previous owners' problems" after taking over the business on March 14 this year.

"Damage was caused by certain individuals coming into the premises and he was burgled. Mr Sokolnicki had the idea to set up a camera to find out who was causing him these problems.

"He set up the business with the best of intentions but very quickly his intentions changed and developed into these offences."

Committing Sokolnicki to Bournemouth Crown Court for sentencing, District Judge Alec Ormerod said: "The gravity of the matter is such that it should go to the crown court."

Sokolnicki was granted bail on the condition that he does not return to the tanning studio or Queen's Road.

First published: May 12, 2006