Man used mirror to look up woman’s dress in shop

Michael Edward Le Billon, 41, who gave a St Saviour’s address, denied behaving in an indecent manner in a public place.

The court heard the victim had been unaware of what had happened until she was told by a witness, Nicola Wilkinson, who had been in the shop at the same time. The women were unknown to each other at the time.

Mrs Wilkinson told the court she had been shocked and could hardly believe what she was seeing.

In December 2015, Le Billon was jailed for 17 months after he admitted taking more than 600 pictures and videos up women’s and schoolgirls’ dresses in Town shops, which were covered by eight offences.

Mrs Wilkinson said she had been near to the victim in St Peter’s Post Office on the day before Father’s Day in June last year as they were both looking for cards. As she turned to leave she found her way blocked by the defendant who was crouched down and had his right arm and leg sticking out. His right hand was about a foot above the ground and about six inches behind the victim.

There was a card in his hand and she saw a mirror sticking out the top of it.

She was so shocked she had watched this for up to 20 seconds before going to the counter to tell the shop owner what she had seen. The defendant left the store in the meantime.

Mrs Wilkinson said she had spoken to the victim about this outside. As she was doing so another woman, who overheard their conversation, came up and asked if they were talking about the man who had just left the shop. The woman said she believed he had previous convictions for such offences but could not remember his name.

The women exchanged telephoned numbers. The victim told the court how she had later sent WhatsApp messages to the two other women with a photo of the defendant attached and both confirmed that it was the same man they had seen.

The victim told the court she had been in a state of shock and she had called the police about an hour after getting home.

The defendant was arrested at Petit Bot the next day.

He admitted going to St Peter’s Post Office the day before but denied doing what was alleged and said he had been looking for a Father’s Day card. A mirror and a camera were found during the search of his home that followed.

He told the court he had not taken a mirror to the shop. His keys were in his left hand when he entered the store and his mobile phone and wallet in his right one. He said Mrs Wilkinson must have mistakenly been looking at his mobile phone. It was an oversight why he had not mentioned the mobile phone in interview with police.

‘She was mistaken as far as I’m concerned and I don’t know why,’ he said.

Advocate Samuel Steel said his client had an addiction to collecting images of women’s underwear.

The allegation here was different and one of viewing only as he had had no way of capturing the images. The seizing of the camera was a red herring as nobody had seen him with a camera and there were no images on it. Evidence about the mirror was circumstantial.

The defendant said he had an addiction to collecting images but not looking up women’s dresses. He had been doing a lot of work with the Probation Service in relation to this and a risk management programme was going well. He still had a compulsion to collect images and though his addiction was not cured he felt it was now under control.

Crown Advocate Fiona Russell asked why it was that somebody who had no idea who he was said they had seen him doing something that only he was particularly keen to do? Mrs Wilkinson had also accurately described a mirror which matched the one that was found in the defendant’s house.

Le Billon said Mrs Wilkinson was mistaken and might have seen publicity about his previous offences.

Judge Philip Robey said the defendant’s previous convictions were not part of his consideration in determining this matter.

He had not found the defendant to be a convincing witness but that did not make him guilty. Mrs Wilkinson had said she was pretty sure he had been holding a mirror but could not be 100% sure. She also appeared to be wrong about the colour of the victim’s dress. The time lapse was another factor and nobody’s memory was perfect. But her account from the moment she went to leave the shop had been vivid.

He could see no reason why she would have fabricated a story and he was sure beyond all reasonable doubt that the defendant had been doing what is know as upskirting and he found him guilty.

Le Billon was bailed unconditionally and sentencing was adjourned for a probation report to be prepared. He must register with Guernsey Police within 24 hours under the sexual offenders legislation.

Le Billon will be sentenced next month.