62-year old man sentenced to 16 weeks in prison after upskirting in Cambridge
The man was caught by plain clothed cops in the city
Last updated 19th Oct 2023
A man who was upskirting in Cambridge has been sentenced to 4 months in prison after being caught by plain clothes police officers.
Officers from the Cambridge City Neighbourhood Team were on patrol in the city on 8 September when they spotted Rick Sivier holding a camera bag by the strap and hanging it close to the floor.
The bag was open with the lens pointed upwards and the officers observed him walk through Market Square, Petty Curry and Rose Crescent approaching women wearing skirts closely.
The officers stopped Sivier and identified themselves as police officers and took the camera from the bag which had been recording for 45 minutes.
A search of his home in Warren Road, Cambridge, uncovered a number of hard drives and sim cards with further footage.
In interview he made full admissions and told police it was not the first time he had recorded up the skirts of women.
What is upskirting and what are the laws around it?
According to goverment website, upskirting is where someone takes a picture under a person’s clothing without their permission.
In 2019 it became a specific criminal offence in England and Wales.
Perpetrators will face two years in prison.
By criminalising this distressing practice, it's hoped that it deters people from committing the crime.
Upskirting, where committed to obtain sexual gratification, can result in the most serious offenders being placed on the sex offenders register.
At Cambridge Magistrates’ Court yesterday (17 October), Sivier, was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, given a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and must carry out 200 hours unpaid work.
The 62-year-old was also given a five-year sexual harm prevention order and put on the sex offenders register for seven years.
Detective Constable Ben Smith said: “Thanks to the eagle-eyed neighbourhood officers, this man has been put before the courts for hic actions.
"We urge people to look out for suspicious behaviour and report it so we can continue to put predators, who are a danger to women and girls, in front of the courts.”