A CARDIGAN man who tried to take photos of a 78-year-old woman while she was in a toilet cubicle will have to register as a sex offender for five years.

Adam Silcox, 21, claimed to police that he had been forced to use the ladies toilet at the Cilgerran Wildlife Centre as he was “desperate” and while in there had dropped his phone into the cubicle being used by the woman.

But he pleaded guilty to a charge of voyeurism.

Magistrates were told by prosecutor Steve Davies that the woman had seen Silcox put his hand under the divide between the cubicle holding his phone.

When she noticed, Mr Davies said she moved a bin to block the hand before Silcox withdrew his hand.

The woman left the toilet and told her husband what had happened and then informed staff.

Mr Davies said staff waited outside the toilet until they saw Silcox, of Flat 1, Pendre, leave, telling him he should not have been in the ladies.

Staff called the police and when speaking to Silcox he said: “I haven’t taken any photos of anyone”.

Mr Davies said a check of Silcox’s phone found a picture of the floor which had been taken during the incident, which happened on 10 November 2016.

But Silcox claimed that while at the Wildlife Centre he had needed to go to the toilet and had to use the ladies as the gents toilets were occupied.

He said he had been in there some time when he heard someone go into the cubicle next door and claimed he had dropped his phone and was retrieving it. He said any picture of the floor must have been taken when he dropped his phone.

Defence solicitor Alan Lewis said since the incident Silcox had “very much grown up” and said Silcox described the incident as “a moment of madness” which he still could not explain and he was very remorseful.

Silcox was given an 18-month community order with 45 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He will also pay costs of £365.

He was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years. Magistrates opted against banning Silcox from owning electronic equipment which could take pictures.