"Paraphilic interest in up-skirting" lands man in jail

Friday 15 June 2018

A man who was seen at St Peter's Post Office using a mirror to look up a woman's skirt has been sentenced to three months in prison.

Michael Le Billon, 41, had entered a not guilty plea to using a mirror for unlawful purposes, but was found guilty of behaving in an indecent manner during a subsequent trial, where the court heard he had previous similar convictions.

Le Billon had previously served a 17 month prison sentence after being found guilty of using an iPod to take more than 600 'up-skirt' images of both women's and girl's underwear in Town.

This latest offence took place on June 17 2017. He was reported to Guernsey Police after he was seen by a witness at St Peter's Post Office kneeling and using a mirror in what witnesses thought was a dubious manner.

During his trial in Guernsey's Magistrates Court, Le Billon described himself as being "addicted to collecting images of women's underwear", which is known as 'up-skirting'.

According to a witness who appeared before the court, Le Billon was kneeling in front of the card stands inside the post office, behind a woman and her daughter. A witness saw him with his arm outstretched and twisting his body. She noticed that he had a card in the palm of his outstretched hand, and a mirror mostly concealed within that card. He was using that mirror and his kneeling position to gain a view up the woman's skirt.

The witness observed him doing this for around 30 seconds, before Le Billon realised they were stood behind him, at which point he got up and left the shop.

Pictured: Michael Le Billon

While the woman he had been looking at did not notice at first, the witness spoke to her and post office staff immediately following the event, and despite Le Billon quickly leaving the premises, the woman reported the indicident to Guernsey Police.

Le Billon was arrested the following day after he was identified, and while he did not have a mirror in his possession, a mirror that matched the exact description the witness gave was found in his house during a search. 

While describing his addiction, Le Billon pointed to the fact he was addicted to collecting images, which he could not have done with a mirror, however the prosecution's case was that he would still get "gratification" from seeing.

The defence argued Le Billon had been in the post office to buy a Father's Day card - the day before the occasion was to be marked. He intended to send the card to his father over social media, however he did not purchase any card during his visit, despite having a card in his hand for some time, which he said he had picked out "incase he could not find a better one".

In sentencing; Judge Graeme McKerrell stated he did not believe Le Billon's 'feeble account' and that by continuing to plead not guilty he was not only deluding himself but also his family. He said: "You have a paraphilic interest in up-skirting and by continuing to protest your innocence you cannot be trusted."

The Judge continued to address Le Billon saying many had suffered because of him: "The lady whose skirt you were looking up has suffered as has the lady who had to come to court to give evidence they have all been dragged into your sordid activities, albeit indirectly."

He told Le Billon he had listened to his defence: "I have considered everything, however there is no mitigation to be found."

Judge McKerrell sentenced Le Billon to three months in prison, the maximum he could give for this offence. He also imposed a further notification order.