A man caught upskirting on the Tube during a visit to the UK has been jailed within 24 hours of being arrested by police.
Martin Stone, 62, stalked an unsuspecting woman through Bank station before filming up her skirt as she used the escalator and was caught watching the footage back just moments later.
Stone was arrested by a plain-clothes police officer just after 11.30am last Wednesday and was sentenced to 10 days in prison by magistrates at Highbury Corner the following morning.
“Upskirting is a sickening invasion of privacy and this result sends a clear message on how quickly we will act against this disgusting form of sexual offending”, said Detective Chief Inspector Sarah White from British Transport Police.
“We have plain clothes officers conducting patrols like this every day across the network.
“Our officers are on the network looking out for you, whether you see them or not, and we will take action.”
Stone, who had flown into the UK on a visit from Israel, was caught on CCTV following the woman through the station before positioning himself behind her on the escalator.
He was followed out of the station by the officer after the incident, and found reviewing the footage of the woman’s legs and skirt that he had just captured.
Stone was carrying two mobile phones, a spy camera pen, two Oyster cards and a camera, police said, and he admitted later that he had taped over the flash on his phone to try to avoid being caught.
Stone, from Be’er Shiva in Israel, admitted a charge of voyeurism for “operat[ing] equipment beneath clothing of another without consent”.
He was told to pay £213 in court costs and fees, while magistrates ordered the destruction of all Sim cards and memory storage devices from his cameras and mobile phones.
“Stone’s vile predatory behaviour is evident from his targeted actions and specialist equipment,” added DCI White.“I would urge anyone who is a victim of upskirting, or any other sexual offence, to text us discreetly on 61016 or call 999 in an emergency.
“No report is too small or too trivial, we will always take you seriously.”
