Museum Expert Installed Secret Toilet Camera

A world-renowned paper conservation expert with the Victoria and Albert Museum installed a secret camera in a first-floor disabled toilet and kept a collection of women's clothes, wigs and make-up under his desk.

Michael Wheeler, 54, the award-winning Senior Paper Conservator at the V & A in Cromwell Road, South Kensington told police when interviewed: "I suffer from a sexual addiction. The recordings were for my own use."

Wheeler, who been at the museum for seventeen years and lectured all over the world, pleaded guilty on his first appearance to voyeurism on August 10 in that he installed equipment with intent to observe others doing a private act for his own sexual gratification.

He admitted a second voyeurism charge that on or before August 10 he recorded another person doing a private act for the purpose of his own sexual gratification.

Prosecutor Mr. Robert Simpson told West London Magistrates' Court yesterday: "On the first floor there is a disabled toilet used by both men and women.

"There was a lady using the facilities when she noticed a strange coat hook opposite the toilet bowl and alerted staff.

"It was a covert camera concealed within the hook."

The camera was examined and Wheeler was easily identified because he recorded himself.

"The defendant was recorded as the person putting it there at the time.

"It was explained to him that there would be a search of his workspace and Mr. Wheeler said: "The jiffy bag under my desk. That's all you need."

Another covert camera was inside the bag along with women's clothing, wigs, make-up and what Mr. Simpson described as "other items for sexual gratification."

The prosecutor added explained the defendant's memory stick were analysed.

"There were images of men and women using the lavatory. The one's of the men standing up are more explicit."

The magistrates bailed Wheeler for a pre sentence report to January 14 and the Chairwoman told him: "This is a very serious matter. It will be a hefty sentence one way or another.

"This is a very serious matter and there will be a substantial sentence for you."

Wheeler, who lives on a boat in South Dock Marina, Rope Street, Rotherhithe graduated from the University of Northumbria and specialises in Indian and Asian art on paper and architectural drawings.

He has lectured in Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Finland, India and Singapore and advised on projects in India and Egypt.

Wheeler was the head paper conservator at the Auckland City Art Gallery from 1987 and in 1990 was awarded the Andrew W Mellon fellowship at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.

He is also an accredited member of the Institute of Conservation since 2000 and is a member of the professional accredtation committee.