DAVID PROVOST LOOE UPSKIRTING PERVERT BANNED FROM PLYMOUTH BUS STOPS AND SCHOOLS

In a recent development in Plymouth, a man identified as David Provost, aged 61 and residing in Looe, has been subjected to strict legal restrictions following his conviction related to an upskirting incident involving a teenage girl. The court proceedings revealed that Provost was caught in February 2017 attempting to film under the skirt of a 15-year-old girl using a concealed video camera stored in his bag.

At the time of the offence, Provost was in Plymouth, where the incident took place, and he was apprehended and brought before the city magistrates last week. This hearing occurred just one day before the legislation specifically criminalizing upskirting was enacted, meaning his actions were prosecuted under the older laws concerning public decency. The court heard that Provost’s conduct was a clear violation of public decency laws, and he admitted to the charges of outraging public decency and possessing indecent photographs of children.

As part of his sentencing, magistrates imposed a community order that includes mandatory sex offender treatment, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions. Additionally, they issued a comprehensive Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that will remain in effect for five years. This order enforces several restrictions designed to prevent Provost from approaching minors or engaging in activities that could put children at risk.

Specifically, Provost is now prohibited from being within 10 metres of any primary or secondary school at any time. Furthermore, he must adhere to strict distance rules around bus stops, where he is forbidden from approaching during peak school hours—namely, between 7am and 9.30am in the mornings and from 3pm to 6pm in the afternoons. These measures aim to keep him away from children traveling to and from school, reducing the risk of further incidents.

In addition to restrictions around schools and bus stops, Provost is barred from entering parks, swimming pools, sports centres, or any other locations that are likely to attract individuals under the age of 16. The court also ordered that he is not permitted to possess any photographic or video recording equipment outside of his own residence, further limiting his ability to commit similar offences.

Provost, who resides on Moorview Road in Looe, pleaded guilty to the charges on February 24, 2017. His convictions include outraging public decency and making two indecent photographs of children, categorized under the least severe category, between May and June of that year. The incident and subsequent legal actions highlight the ongoing efforts to combat voyeurism and protect minors from exploitation.

It is noteworthy that upskirting has now been explicitly recognized as a specific criminal offence under the Voyeurism Act, which was introduced after a long campaign by victims seeking justice. The new legislation allows for penalties of up to two years in prison, replacing the previous common law offence of outraging public decency. This case underscores the importance of the law in addressing such invasive and harmful behaviours, and the measures courts are willing to impose to safeguard vulnerable members of the community.