BELFAST MAN CAUGHT ON CAMERA UPSKIRTING IN BELFAST SHOPPING CENTRE
The article reports that Brian Marshall, a man from Belfast, was found guilty of an upskirting incident in Victoria Square shopping centre where he crouched behind a woman and took photos up her skirt on his iPhone.During the trial, a jury saw CCTV footage of the incident, and the victim testified that Marshall dropped his phone when she turned around and attempted to delete the photos, which included images of her legs and thighs.
He denied the offence, claiming it was a misunderstanding, but the judge, Belfast Recorder Judge Patricia Smyth, stated there was no misunderstanding and described his actions as deliberate.
Marshall was convicted of taking a covert photograph underneath a person's skirt using his mobile phone.
He was sentenced to an 18-month probation order and told that if he committed any further offences of this nature, he would face jail.
The judge addressed him directly, stating: "You have a problem and you are being given an opportunity to deal with that problem.
If you commit any further offences of this nature or even remotely connected to this type of offending, you are going straight to prison." The incident occurred on May 14, 2021, at around 7 pm, when the victim was walking with a friend towards the toilets, and her friend noticed Marshall behind them.
CCTV footage and the victim's testimony confirmed that Marshall crouched behind her, dropped his phone, and was scrolling through it, deleting photos that showed her thighs and dress.
Marshall maintained his innocence, but CCTV evidence proved otherwise.
The victim did not make a victim impact statement, but the judge acknowledged that it would have been distressing for any woman, and emphasized that Marshall was offered an opportunity to get help for his problem.
