A 50-year-old businessman secretly filmed women in various states of undress with a hidden video camera, a court was told.

After Leslie Hudson was caught pointing his lens under the door of a changing cubicle at a leisure centre, he revealed that it had been his "hobby" for eight years.

The married father, who runs a photographic business at Leeds Castle, near Maidstone, escaped a jail sentence after admitting four charges of committing an act outraging public decency.

Hudson, of Tollgate Place, Headcorn, near Maidstone, was given a three-year community rehabilitation order and will have to attend a sex offender programme.

Maidstone Crown Court was told how a father was with his family at Tenterden Leisure Centre on July 3 when he noticed Hudson loitering.

Andrew Forsyth, prosecuting, said Hudson was crouching down by a cubicle where there was a woman inside. He had both his hands in a supermarket plastic bag.

The witness saw that the camera lens was pointing under the 6in gap at the bottom of the door. He became alarmed and reported the matter to staff.

Mr Forsyth said Hudson refused a request from the manager to see what was in the bag but then admitted he had been filming from it.

Police saw that the camcorder was wedged in the bag with a block to adjust the height. An officer looked at the tape and saw that it contained film of a woman getting changed.

When told that his home and business address would be searched, Hudson confessed: "I have some videos, so I had better tell you where they are." He drew up a map of his business premises.

"He said he had been videoing females for around eight years," said the prosecutor. "He admitted setting up the camera in a plastic bag so as to achieve a good filming position."

Hudson said he had also filmed at Maidstone Leisure Centre in Mote Park, town centres and on beaches while on holiday. He admitted filming a neighbour in her underwear.

"He denied getting pleasure from it," said Mr Forsyth. "He said it was just a hobby. Videos were viewed. They show women being followed in the streets. The camera is at an angle so as to look up their skirts."

Tony Badenoch, defending, said the offences were at a low level. "I urge that the sentence is very much in the shame already brought upon himself and those around him," he said. "It is right to say he is riddled with shame. "

Mr Badenoch said the father-of-two had a business which others were dependent on. Financial pressures had forced him to put his home on the market.

"He expresses very real remorse," he said. "He has had the courage to plead guilty. He has had the courage to tell others around him."

Judge Michael Neligan said character references spoke very highly of Hudson. He told him: "For the crimes you have committed you will be placed on probation for three years."

The judge said if Hudson, who was also ordered to pay £743 costs, breached the order or re-offended, he could be brought back to court.

"If re-sentenced, the overwhelming likelihood is it will be a custodial sentence, which would not be a happy experience at all," he added.