The Bruges Criminal Court has sentenced a 47-year-old man from Roeselare to one year in prison for voyeurism.
Using a mirror, the defendant had tried to spy on a couple of minors in the changing rooms of the Parcs du Coq centre. The public prosecutor had requested a 15-month suspended prison sentence, but the defendant sabotaged his case with the legal assistant.
On 2 October 2021, the defendant was caught by the staff of the centre using a mirror to peep under a changing cabin occupied by a 16-year old girl and her 17-year-old boyfriend. While waiting for the police to arrive, the accused attempted to throw his mirror into a rubbish bin.
In 2012, the same man had been given a six-month suspended prison sentence for assaulting a minor and for possessing and distributing child pornography.
Given these circumstances, the prosecutor had requested 15 months' suspended sentence, with conditions.
The defendant admitted to the facts and explained at the hearing that he was struggling with a gambling addiction. After reminding him of the seriousness of the facts, the judge ordered a social investigation, which resulted in a report against the defendant.
However, the Roeselare resident told the court assistant that he considered it a waste of time to undergo treatment for his deviances. This led the public prosecutor to request a prison sentence.
As a result, the Bruges correctional court sentenced the 47-year-old to one year in prison.
