MAN GUILTY OF UPSKIRTING PHOTOS SPARED JAIL AFTER LOSING JOB AND HAVING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
A man named Neil Abbott has been found guilty of taking upskirt photos of a young woman, an offense described as degrading and deliberate.He was on a drunken night out when he brazenly pushed through a queue at Liverpool Street station and took a picture up a woman's skirt, as reported in Westminster Magistrates' Court.
Court proceedings detailed that Abbott was seen jumping the queue at a food shop to photograph a 20-year-old woman wearing a short denim skirt.
A witness stated: "He took his phone from his pocket and proceeded to take a picture underneath her skirt.
He wasn't rushing, it was almost like he had done it before." When confronted, Abbott told police he planned to delete the images, but over 30 other upskirting photos were later found on his phone, along with images downloaded from the internet.
The victim expressed her feelings, stating: "I did not give permission for anyone to take the image.
I feel repulsed by these actions." Abbott's lawyer emphasized his family's involvement in community activities and suggested his mental health had been significantly impacted by the court proceedings.
Abbott, a graduate of Loughborough University, previously worked eight years in banking and finance before starting his own business.
During sentencing, Judge Vanessa Baraitser described the offense as serious and deliberate, noting its degrading nature and the victim's distress.
Abbott was handed a 280-hour community service order, ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation, and subjected to a rehabilitation requirement.
He was spared jail due to his early guilty plea and good character, but the court is investigating his conduct during a prior court appearance.
Abbott comes from a tight-knit family involved in church and community activities, with concerns raised about his future employment prospects.
