CHRISTOPHER HARVEY QUINTON BULLRING SEX PEST: POLICE PROMISE CASE REOPEN IF VICTIMS COME FORWARD

In July 2016, authorities in Birmingham issued a public appeal concerning a disturbing case involving Christopher Harvey, a man from Quinton, who was implicated in a series of voyeuristic activities at the Bullring shopping centre and other prominent city locations.

Police have urged women of all ages who suspect they may have been targeted by a phone pervert operating within the Bullring to come forward and report their experiences. The West Midlands Police have committed to reopening the investigation into Harvey’s actions should additional victims step forward and be able to identify themselves in the evidence collected.

Harvey, aged 21 at the time, was convicted and sentenced at Birmingham Magistrates Court for a series of invasive acts. He was handed a suspended jail sentence after being found guilty of secretly filming women and girls by covertly capturing footage under their skirts at the Bullring and nearby shopping centres, including Grand Central. The court heard that Harvey’s mobile phone contained an astonishing 300 videos, which he had recorded while stalking victims as they used escalators, shopped in stores, or simply walked through the city centre.

His predatory activities extended beyond the Bullring, with victims targeted in other well-known Birmingham locations such as Brindleyplace, Broad Street, Corporation Street, and Harborne Village. The police finally apprehended Harvey on December 17 of the previous year when a security guard at the Bullring observed him acting suspiciously outside the Disney store. This suspicion led to his arrest and subsequent investigation.

Due to the nature of the footage, identifying the victims proved challenging for investigators. A police spokeswoman explained that the lead officer on the case stated they would be willing to reopen the case if potential victims come forward and can identify themselves in the videos. She emphasized that, although the footage was difficult to analyze for victim identification, Harvey was prosecuted based on the material collected on the day of his arrest.

Harvey admitted to two charges of creating indecent images and two charges of observing a person engaged in a private act. Magistrates sentenced him to 12 months in jail, suspended for two years, acknowledging the seriousness of his offences, which spanned a lengthy period. Additionally, Harvey was ordered to pay costs of £185, along with an £80 victim surcharge, and was mandated to register as a sex offender for ten years.

Authorities have urged any women who believe they may have been victimized to contact the police at 101 or reach out anonymously via Crimestoppers at 0800 555111. The case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance and reporting in the face of such invasive crimes.