Workman stole women's underwear

Steven Atkinson admitted possessing indecent images

A workman who rifled through his female customers' drawers and stole their underwear has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Steven Atkinson, 45, worked as an aerial fitter and took secret pictures before stealing knickers and bras from women's homes.

Atkinson, of Northern Moor, Manchester, also made obscene phone calls to women.

At Manchester Crown Court he admitted burglary, possessing indecent images and making an indecent phone call.

Atkinson's crime were uncovered when a computer memory stick was handed in to police.

His bizarre sexual behaviour is disturbing and he will be subject to very close and stringent scrutiny in the future Det Con Pete Pickards

It contained hundreds of images of women, voice recordings and indecent images of children.

Some of the photographs had been changed by Atkinson to include abusive and indecent text.

Police found a list of telephone numbers and names, with sexually derogatory remarks alongside each, when they searched Atkinson's house.

Atkinson pleaded guilty to three offences of burglary, 13 charges of possessing indecent images, and making an obscene phone call.

He also asked for another four burglaries and 38 counts of possessing indecent images to be taken into consideration.

'Violated'

Atkinson was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended for two years, given an indefinite Sex Offenders Prevention Order and instructed to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Det Con Pete Rickards, of the Sexual Crime Unit at Greater Manchester Police, said: "Each of the complainants has felt completely violated by his intrusion into their private lives.

"Coupled with his interest in child abuse images, his bizarre sexual behaviour is disturbing and he will be subject to very close and stringent scrutiny in the future."

Officers are now appealing for anyone who thinks they may have been a victim of Atkinson to contact Greater Manchester Police's Sexual Crime Unit.