A POSTMAN who filmed a half-naked woman as she exercised in her own home had Googled his victim before the incident.

Nicholas Apps was delivering letters in Southbourne when he walked into a house through the back garden and discovered the unsuspecting woman using a rowing machine in her underwear.

Apps, 49, took out his mobile phone and began recording the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

He filmed her for around a minute before he was interrupted by her husband. The couple called police later that day.

Officers discovered Apps had previously looked at the woman's Facebook page and searched for her on Google.

However, he claimed he had posted the wrong letter through the door of her home and went to the back of the property when there was no answer.

Apps, of Sea Road in Boscombe, appeared at Poole Magistrates' Court yesterday, where he admitted voyeurism.

Sentencing was adjourned for reports. The defendant has no previous convictions.

Richard Oakley, prosecuting, said the offence happened on November 19 last year.

"The lady was exercising on her rowing machine at home in the rear of her property," he said.

"She had no clothing on apart from her underpants.

"[Apps] approached the address to deliver mail, as a postman, went round to the rear and began filming her as she was rowing.

"Her husband returned and saw the defendant. He approached him and saw he was filming his wife as she was rowing with no clothes on.

"He confronted him and stopped him filming.

"Police searched the defendant's address and found two mobile phones. They found he had also visited the woman's Facebook page back in January 2016 and done several Google searches against her name.

"One of the phones contained video of her.

"When interviewed Mr Apps confirmed he was a postman and said he was delivering a letter. He put the wrong item in the letter box and rang the doorbell several times but there was no answer.

"He saw through a window that [the victim] was in and went to the rear of the property to get her attention.

"She walked into the conservatory wearing just a pair of knickers and started to use her rowing machine.

"He thought this was attractive and decided to video her. She was not aware he was doing it."