What began as a casual Tinder connection between two British Airways colleagues has now turned into a serious courtroom battle.
A BA pilot is facing criminal charges after allegations that he secretly recorded intimate moments with an air hostess and shared the footage with a friend — all without her consent.
Allegations of Secret Filming Come to Light
Tim Capron, a 38-year-old British Airways pilot, is standing trial accused of voyeurism.
The court heard that he allegedly took one photograph and two videos during a sexual encounter with a cabin crew colleague, who was blindfolded at the time.
While the woman told jurors she willingly consented to sex, she was clear that she never agreed to be photographed or filmed.
According to her testimony, she only became aware something was wrong when she noticed Capron’s phone during the encounter.
That discovery led to an angry confrontation between the two shortly afterward.
Text Messages Reveal Tension and Distrust
Jurors were shown text messages exchanged between the pair after the incident.
In one message read aloud in court, the complainant expressed confusion and frustration, questioning Capron’s intentions and suggesting he may have been boasting about sexual encounters with cabin crew colleagues.
Capron replied by denying those claims, telling her it was upsetting that she could think that way about him.
Despite his response, the relationship between them clearly deteriorated after the incident.
Footage Sent to a Fellow Pilot
The court also heard that Capron sent the images and videos to another British Airways pilot, Steven Farnworth, whom he had met years earlier at flight school.
On the night of the incident in September 2021, Capron messaged Farnworth asking whether it was “safe” for him to watch videos once the woman was blindfolded.
When Farnworth received a photo, he replied enthusiastically.
Later, however, he sent a message warning Capron, telling him, “Don’t get caught.”
Farnworth later told investigators that he only glanced briefly at the image and did not examine it closely.
Messages Afterward Paint a Different Picture
Further messages exchanged days later were also shown to the jury.
In one, Capron referred to the complainant in dismissive terms, describing her as “annoying.”
These messages were presented as part of the wider context surrounding the alleged offence.
Capron Says There Was No Malicious Intent
In a prepared statement read to Reading Crown Court, Capron told jurors he felt “terrible” when he realized the complainant was distressed.
He insisted there was no malicious intent behind taking the images, explaining that the room was dark and the complainant was blindfolded because he believed that would keep both of them anonymous.
Capron also told the court that the woman had mentioned being blackmailed in the past over intimate images by another partner, which he suggested indicated she had previously engaged in similar situations.
The prosecution, however, emphasized that the central issue was whether Capron knew she did not consent to being recorded.
Previous Conviction Revealed During Trial
As the trial continued, Capron disclosed that he had a prior conviction for possessing extreme pornography.
The court heard that police found a single explicit video on his phone during the investigation, which Capron said had been sent to him by a friend and then forwarded to someone else in 2019.
He pleaded guilty to that offence in August 2023 and received a six-month conditional discharge, meaning he avoided punishment after committing no further offences during that period. Capron confirmed he had no other convictions or cautions.
From Oxford Graduate to the Dock
Capron’s background was also outlined in court.
An Oxford University graduate with a master’s degree in biology, he joined British Airways as a graduate in 2009 at the age of 22.
He told jurors he has never been married, has no children, and remains single.
He also said he has stayed off dating apps since the incident, explaining that he does not feel it would be appropriate while the case is ongoing.
According to Capron, he believes he would need to disclose everything to any future partner and currently feels weighed down by the situation.
Uncertainty About the Future
Capron told the court that when he joined Tinder, he had been looking for a long-term relationship.
He described feeling unsettled during the Covid period, when fears of redundancy spread through the aviation industry due to lockdown-related financial pressures.
As the trial continues, the jury is left to decide whether Capron knowingly recorded intimate footage without consent — a decision that could have lasting consequences for his career and personal life.
What Happens Next?
The case now hinges on whether prosecutors can prove Capron was aware that the complainant did not agree to being filmed.
With testimony still unfolding, the court’s final verdict will determine what comes next for the British Airways pilot and the woman at the center of the allegations.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn