POLICE discovered images of children undressing in the changing rooms of a Bournemouth leisure centre after a concerned dad seized a mobile phone from a man sitting in the cafe.

Maciej Wink, of Wattons Lane in Matchams, Ringwood, had recorded naked youngsters at the Littledown Centre last year.

He was arrested after one young victim told his dad he thought Wink had filmed him.

The dad then tracked Wink, 39, to the centre's cafe. The defendant may have been watching the footage when the dad took the phone from him and handed it to centre staff, a court has now heard.

Wink admitted six counts of voyeurism on dates between January 19 and February 16 2017 before a judge at Bournemouth Crown Court. He was a "patron" of the Littledown Centre when the offences were committed.

When his seized mobile phone was forensically examined, officers found five videos in category C of pre-teens, and one category C photograph.

Judge Brian Forster QC told Wink his offences were "in every sense outrageous".

"You knew full well you were going to record young people who were getting changed," he said.

"You were doing that for your own sexual gratification, and for sexual purposes.

"You invaded their space."

Mitigating, Tom Evans said the defendant felt "shame at his actions". He recognised he had "a problem", it was said.

"Mr Wink has lost his former good character," Mr Evans said.

"He has never been in trouble before. That is already one form of punishment."

Judge Forster said there are "real victims" of Wink's offending.

"You have caused terrible upset to the families involved," he told the defendant.

"If it had not been for the prompt actions of one father, I have no doubt you would have continued to commit these type of offences."

The judge said that, due to guidelines, he could only sentence Wink to a maximum of 26 weeks in prison. Following discount of a third for guilty pleas, Wink would then only serve around two months, it was heard.

"You clearly need real assistance to overcome your problems," he said.

As a result, Wink was sentenced to a three-year community order, with a requirement to attend 50 days of a sex offenders' rehabilitation programme, as well as 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days. The offender will also be the subject of a sexual harm prevention order banning him from attending leisure centres.

Speaking after the case, the father who seized Wink's phone said: "It was just a terrible shock, really.

"As a father, you just wonder if you've done everything you can to protect your kids from men like him.

"You just can't be too careful."

The Littledown centre's operator BH Live had not commented at the time of going to press.