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A 31-year-old man who took a "large number" of photos of men in toilets without their consent for his own sexual gratification has been spared jail.
Instead, Marco Paulo Freitas Do Nascimento received a Community Service Order for 120 hours, a five-year restraining order and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.
Do Nascimento was arrested and his phone seized after he was spotted attempting to take photos with his phone of a person in the public toilets of a car park in St. Helier.
After his description was given to police, he was identified on CCTV and apprehended by Police on the same day.
After examining his phone, Police uncovered a "large number of photographs and some videos of different males using various public toilets in St. Helier".
In March, Do Nascimento appeared in the Magistrate's Court and pleaded guilty to taking the images on a mobile phone between 16 June and 30 August last year in the Central Market, Green Street, Howard Davis Park, Liberation Station, Minden Place, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Sand Street, Snow Hill and West Park.
He also admitted attempting to make another illicit image in Minden Place on 7 September. Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris released Do Nascimento on bail on condition that he does not leave or attempt to leave the island.
Following his sentencing in the Magistrate's Court this morning, Detective Constable Jeremy Percival commented: “This is a particularly unsettling crime for those involved.
"We should all feel safe and secure in these spaces and not fear that our privacy may be violated in such a way.
"We are committed to seeing offenders such as these face the courts.”
Anyone who is the victim of a sexual offence can receive support from the following organisations:
SARC at Dewberry House provides expert independent and confidential support to victims of sexual abuse. Tel: 01534 888222.
Jersey Action Against Rape (JAAR) provide and maintain a supporting framework for survivors and their families. Tel: 01534 482801.
Jersey Women’s Refuge offer help and support for victims of domestic abuse. Tel: 0800 7356836.
Victim Support offer free and confidential advice to victims of crime. Tel: 01534 440496.
Victims First Jersey is a free and independent service offering confidential support to victims and witnesses of crime. Call 0800 7351612.
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