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HomeLatest NewsKmart Up-skirter Locked-up After Sentence

Kmart Up-skirter Locked-up After Sentence

A Frenchs Forest father was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment at Manly Local Court today, 11 June, following numerous charges springing from an ‘up-skirting’ of a 12-year-old girl in Kmart last year.

Principe Antonio pleaded guilty to ten counts of filming “privates without consent”, and one count of filming “privates without consent” under 16.

The maximum penalty for his type of offence was over 10 years imprisonment.

The 56 year old pursued 15 individual women over three months at Warringah, Chatswood and Warriewood shopping centres by attaching a $20 dashcam to his shoe and taking pictures under their skirts while pretending to shop.

55-year-old Antonio Principe standing outside Manly Court House August 2024. Photo: Manly Observer

After three months, he was finally arrested when a mother noticed him inching his foot under her 12-year-old daughter’s skirt while she was in the book section at Kmart Warriewood Square last year, 22 July 2024.

It was revealed in court documents Mr Antonio said he was waiting for his wife to finish grocery shopping before being ‘triggered’ by the young girl’s pleated mini skirt.

His Legal Aid solicitor argued the sentence be less severe claiming Mr Antonio had very little planning and preparation during his actions, saying the camera was “quite loud” and draws attention.

It was also stated Mr Antonio was remorseful for his actions and acted out of curiosity rather than sexual satisfaction and pursued a psychologist after he was charged, claiming psychological trauma stemming from his upbringings. It was said his wife, although confused, and four children are in support of him.

Magistrate Daniel Reiss disputed that the actions were clumsy and obvious amidst the “hurly whirly” of a shopping centre, saying the up-skirting was very planned.

Principe Antonio arriving at court

Mr Antonio also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child abuse material and two counts of possession or use of a prohibited weapon without a permit.

Eight photos and two videos of child abuse material, obtained online, were found on a storage device in the offenders home by police.

It was argued this number could’ve been a lot higher as cases like this have been known to find material in the 1000s and that there was no evidence of the images being apart of a larger network.

The court also heard the two switchblades and baton found in his home were deemed as serving no nefarious purpose.

Mr Reiss stated that out of the 15 victims, a 12-year-old girl was clearly targeted and later referred to the parent’s victim’s impact statement, reading it was disturbing for a little girl to be caught in the middle of this situation – she was the only known victim to police.

Mr Antonio was sentenced to 14 months prison and will be eligible for parole from 10 December this year.

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