A Tonbridge firefighter who was found guilty of voyeurism has kept his job after successfully appealing his sentence.

Neil Capeling, of Dowgate Close tore a hole in a packet of Rennies indigestion tablets, hid his Sony mobile phone inside and secretly placed the box in the shower before the woman came in.

The 49-year-old, who previously served as a firefighter in Maidstone, admitted voyeurism at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court but was spared jail on May 30.

He was originally placed on the sex offenders' register but after last month's appeal his name has now been removed.

A three-year community order was reduced to 11 months with supervision and he will undergo sex offender treatment for three years.

Capeling will also complete 280 hours of unpaid work.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “The firefighter in discussion has retained his position with the fire service.”

The fire service refused to comment further.

Maidstone Magistrates' Court heard that being placed on the sex offenders’ register would be ‘catastrophic’ for his career with the fire service.

His line manager, Mick Stern, also appeared in court as a character witness.

He described Capeling as a “highly respected” firefighter who was one of the most valuable members of his team, but said it was unlikely he would keep his job if he was made to sign the sex offenders’ register.

He was suspended from duty at the time of the hearing.

If Capeling was fired from his job, he would have lost his fire service home and encountered delays accessing his pension.