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Leeds spy cam pervert jailed
A pervert was caught secretly filming up women’s skirts in a Leeds city centre bar.
David Billsberry, 61, told security staff he had a fetish and “everybody had needs”.
Leeds Crown Court heard Billsberry – who works in the film industry – spent five hours in the Carpe Diem bar and filmed six women before being caught on March 20 last year.
Catherine Hollins, prosecuting, said staff and security noticed Billsberry acting suspiciously as he was holding a device in his hand.
Ms Hollins said it turned out to be a camera wrapped in duct tape.
She said: “He was holding it at the height of his own knees. It was obvious to the staff that he was holding it in such a position to be able to take pictures up ladies’ skirts and dresses. He was asked to leave and security staff called the police.”
As police arrived at the scene Billsberry admitted taking pictures of women and was detained.
Ms Hollins said: “He said he had a fetish and everybody had needs. When police arrived he admitted being in the bar for five hours and taking six pictures.
She added: “He said it wasn’t sexual but rather mischievous.”
Billsberry, of Scott Hall Avenue, Leeds, pleaded guilty to outraging public decency.
The court heard Billsberry has a previous conviction for voyeurism from 2004 when he was lodging at a woman’s flat in Scarborough. He installed camera equipment in a disused fireplace and recorded her changing her clothes.
Billsberry also admitted two offences of failing to surrender to custody, when he twice failed to appear at Leeds Crown Court on the outraging decency charge.
The prosecutor asked judge Sally Cahill to consider imposing a sexual offences prevention order against Billsberry, banning him from possessing camera equipment outside his home.
James Littlehales, mitigating, said Billsberry constructed film sets and was self employed.
He said: “Fortunately it appears that none of the young ladies in question were aware that they had been filmed. Clearly the bar staff became aware and he was arrested as a result of that.”
Mr Littlehales said no further images were discovered when his home and computer equipment were searched.
Judge Cahill jailed Billsberry for eight days for the failing to surrender to custody offences.
He will be sentenced for outraging public decency and faces being made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order upon his release from custody.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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