Arrest after women report peeping Tom in Riccarton
A Christchurch man who allegedly filmed a string of young women in bathrooms without their consent has been arrested after a months-long police investigation.
The arrest comes after an article from The Press in which a young woman spoke of seeing a man filming through her windows, with a description of the alleged offender’s behaviour.
The 56-year-old is facing 16 charges, including five of making a visual intimate recording, and seven of burglary. The alleged offending spans from late last year until this year.
Police conducted months of inquiries into complaints from young women living in Upper Riccarton and Ilam, detective Senior Sergeant Tania Jellyman said.
A suspect came to the attention of investigators on March 3, while officers spoke to him about an unrelated matter, she said.
“During that interaction, a description of the man’s behaviour caught the attention of an investigator.
“It matched the behaviour described in a news article from the previous month, where a young woman recounted seeing a man filming through her window.”
After detectives established Operation Click, numerous inquiries led to the suspect being charged, Jellyman said.
The Press previously reported a string of filming incidents in Riccarton dating back at least two years.
Jemima Gregory described a selfie stick being poked through her window while she showered. Another recalled finding her bathroom window’s frosted glass scratched off to allow a clear line of sight.
The victims had shown “incredible bravery” which allowed charges to be laid, Jellyman said. They were now being supported by police.
“We would like to thank the young women who shared their story – they have been instrumental in helping us identify other victims.
“These events have been disturbing for the victims, who are in no way at fault for what occurred. They are alarmed at what has happened to them.
“While in one case, neighbours alerted the occupants to a suspicious person lurking outside a window, most of the victims appear to have been unaware of the filming.
“Our home is where we should feel safe, and where every person has the right to privacy. Offending such as this undermines that.
“If you’re at home and notice suspicious behaviour, please call 111 immediately, or 105 if it’s after the fact. The sooner we are made aware, the sooner we can act.”
The alleged offender is due to appear in the Christchurch District Court on May 13.
Detectives were not seeking anyone else in relation to the offending, and further charges were likely, Jellyman said.
“We are endeavouring to identify further victims.”