A British Airways pilot accused of secretly filming himself having sex with an air hostess planned what prosecutors described as a 'virtual threesome' with another pilot, Reading Crown Court has heard.
Allegations of Secret Recording
Tim Capron, 38, faces a single charge of voyeurism after allegedly taking a photograph and two videos of himself having sex with a blindfolded member of BA's cabin crew. The court heard he met the complainant through the dating app Tinder in September 2021.
Prosecutor Jane Davies told jurors that Capron then sent the videos and image to another BA pilot, Steven Farnworth, whom Capron described as a 'sexual partner' with whom he enjoyed threesomes.
'Virtual Threesome' Planned
In her closing speech, Ms Davies characterised Capron and Mr Farnworth's actions as a 'virtual threesome'. She told the court: 'The truth is that the sexual activity had been planned by the defendant. He made it clear to Mr Farnworth that there was to be some sexual activity that night and he told Mr Farnworth he could expect some videos.'
'He made sure that the scene was set so it would be done and it was to be done in secret, it was not to be done until the complainant was blindfolded, it certainly was not going to be done with her consent and knowledge.'
Ms Davies added: 'You may think, members of the jury, it was a deliberate and conscious decision, not to mention it to the complainant, because she might have said no to being filmed and that would have spoiled the defendant's and Mr Farnworth's evening, their plans of what I would submit was some kind of virtual threesome.'
Consent Dispute
Capron now accepts the complainant did not consent to being recorded and that he never asked her permission, jurors heard. However, he denies the voyeurism charge, arguing he did not know she would not consent.
The defence pointed to messages between Capron and the complainant in which they discussed 'whips, restraints and dominance' before meeting for sex. The court also heard Capron had sent messages describing his interest in what he called 'consensual rape', to which the complainant responded was 'beyond my limits'.
Prosecution's Rebuttal
Ms Davies described it as 'absurd' for Capron to claim he therefore believed she would have consented to being recorded for his and his friend's sexual gratification. 'This is not a common-sense conclusion, it is a giant illogical leap which cannot be made. The activities are completely different', she said.
The prosecutor described Oxford-educated Capron, who said filming and being filmed was part of his sex life, as 'egocentric' and 'selfish'. 'His approach to sexual activity is all what he likes, what pleases him, basing decisions about his knowledge of consent on his own experience and what other sexual partners have allowed him to do', Ms Davies told the court.
Messages Revealed
Messages between Capron and Mr Farnworth after the incident showed the defendant had described the complainant as 'f***ing annoying' and a 'MF [mixed fleet] hoe that thinks she can control me'. Ms Davies told the court these messages demonstrated Capron's 'arrogant misogyny'.
Jenni Dempster KC, defending, said Capron was a man of good character who had not behaved towards the complainant in a 'misogynistic' way. 'Whatever your view of the way he and Mr Farnworth exchanged messages, he is not on trial for that', Ms Dempster said.
Previous Conviction
Capron revealed to the court that he had a previous conviction for possessing extreme pornography and had been given a conditional discharge over the incident in August 2023. He confirmed he had no other previous convictions or cautions.
The defence lawyer accepted some jurors might find Capron's sex life 'rather unpleasant and distasteful', but pointed out the trial was 'not a court of morals'. 'If you disapprove of all of this, it probably has absolutely no relevance to the verdict you will reach', she argued. 'You are concerned here with where he actually knew she was not consenting.'
Background and Deliberations
Capron graduated with an MA in biology from Christ Church college, Oxford, before joining BA as a graduate in 2009 aged 22. He told jurors he had been single at the time of the alleged offence, had never been married or had children, and remains single today.
The jury of seven men and five women began their deliberations at just after 3.30pm on Wednesday. At 4.30pm, they were sent home until 10am on Thursday to continue considering their verdict.
