LONDON APPALLING
UK Live Nation exec pleads guilty to voyeurism
A London-based executive of Live Nation has been fired after pleading guilty to taking up-skirt videos of women on his commute to work.
Andrew Macrae, a former VP of finance and strategic initiatives at the global entertainment company, was caught in July by an off-duty Scotland Yard detective as he tried to use a pen camera attached to a briefcase to do his dirty work, according to reports.
The detective noticed Macrae, 43, placing a small computer case on a station platform between the legs of an unsuspecting victim.
“He had a black laptop bag on the floor, which was zipped-up and a black pen with gold trim poking out of it,” prosecutor Angela Mehadio said in London Magistrates’ Court last week, according to reports.
“The defendant seemed to be changing the angle of the bag, which he had placed between the legs of a blonde female wearing a red summer dress,” Mehadio said.
Then, after boarding a train, the detective observed Macrae, who was standing, position his bag on the floor between the legs of a second woman, who was sitting in front of him.
Convinced the black pen was a recording device, the detective introduced himself as a police officer.
Macrae’s unsuspecting victim overheard and, according to the Shropshire Star newspaper, volunteered: “I think you’ve got it wrong here. He’s done nothing to me.”
Macrae was arrested, and a later search of his home produced an- other camera pen and 49,000 images — including those of a female neighbor and a house guest.
“He admitted his intention was to film up skirts for personal and sexual gratification, and he intended to upload the films when he got home,” Mehadio said.
Macrae, a married father, pleaded guilty last week to seven counts of voyeurism for the purpose of sexual gratification, as well as to one count of outraging public decency.
UK press accounts reported an additional charge of stealing three items of underwear belonging to a female colleague was dropped.
Live Nation confirmed to The Post on Tuesday that the charges against Macrae were real and that he was terminated following his arrest in July.
“Live Nation strongly condemns Macrae’s acts and is outraged by his offensive and criminal behavior which has no place at our company, city or the world at large,” the Los Angeles company said in a statement. It refused to provide additional details, noting that the matter is still before the courts.
Macrae, out on bail, is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 7.
Macrae has moved into his parents’ home in Shropshire, the Shropshire Star reported, and is selling his family’s home in Redhill — a 45-minute train ride south of London.