A British Airways pilot has been acquitted of voyeurism charges after sharing explicit video content featuring a blindfolded cabin crew member with a fellow airline pilot. The case, which concluded at Reading Crown Court, centred on allegations that the pilot recorded and distributed intimate material without the complainant's consent.
Details of the Alleged Incident
Tim Capron, aged 38, was accused of taking a photograph and two videos while engaged in sexual activity with a stewardess he met through the dating application Tinder. The complainant was blindfolded during the encounter, which took place at Capron's residence in Maidenhead, Berkshire, during September 2021.
Prosecutors asserted that Capron subsequently forwarded this explicit content to another British Airways pilot, Steven Farnworth, whom Capron described as a sexual partner with whom he enjoyed participating in threesomes. The prosecution characterised their exchange as constituting a "virtual threesome" and alleged Capron attempted to involve the complainant without her knowledge or agreement.
Defence Arguments and Trial Proceedings
During the trial, Capron testified that he genuinely believed the complainant would have consented to being filmed, citing previous text message discussions about "whips, restraints and dominance" between them. He stated that he thought she would appreciate the "positive affirmation" of seeing Farnworth's response, which included the message "Fan dabby dozey" sent via WhatsApp upon receiving the intimate image.
Defence barrister Jenni Dempster KC emphasised to jurors that the court was "not a court of morals" and that the central issue was whether Capron actually knew the complainant did not consent to the recording. She distinguished between "making a gross error of judgment" and crossing into criminal behaviour.
Case History and Professional Consequences
The legal proceedings against Capron began with his arrest in September 2021, which led to the discovery of extreme pornography on his mobile device. For this separate offence, he received a six-month conditional discharge from magistrates.
Capron first appeared before Reading magistrates in August 2023 charged with voyeurism. His initial trial at Reading Crown Court in July 2024 concluded without a verdict after six days, as jurors were unable to reach a unanimous decision. The Crown Prosecution Service pursued a retrial, which finally commenced this week after eighteen months of delays.
Throughout the process, Capron maintained transparency with his employer, British Airways. The airline initially reassigned him to back office duties and permitted continued simulator training before suspending him on full pay in December 2023. Capron provided regular updates to the airline regarding his legal situation.
Personal and Professional Background
Capron holds a Master of Arts degree in biological science from Christ Church College, Oxford, and joined British Airways as a graduate in 2009 at age 22. He qualified as a pilot in 2016 and stated during proceedings that his most recent takeoff and landing occurred in November of the previous year.
During his testimony, Capron revealed that his friendship with Steven Farnworth had ended by mutual agreement as the case progressed. He expressed regret about his actions, stating: "I have to live with that mistake for the rest of my life and I have done for the last four-and-a-half years."
After five hours of deliberation, the jury at Reading Crown Court returned a not guilty verdict on the voyeurism charge, bringing the prolonged legal matter to its conclusion.
