Local man Principe Antonio has appeared before Manly Local Court regarding charges he allegedly used a camera on his shoe to film a 12-year-old girl under her skirt at Kmart last month. When he appeared before court yesterday, Tuesday, 27 August 2024, he faced a total of 17 counts of filming people’s private parts.
The 55-year-old’s case was, however, adjourned and the Director of Public Prosecutions elected to take on the matter in District Court, given the breadth and severity of the charges.
He was charged with one count of producing child abuse material, 17 counts of filming persons private parts without consent and three counts of possession or use of a prohibited weapon without a permit.
Mr Antonio was arrested by Police Area Command on 27 July after allegedly filming up a young girl’s skirt at Kmart at Warriewood Square.
He was initially allegedly caught filming by the girl’s mother who demanded he hand over a disguised camera (allegedly positioned on his shoe) and commanded to remain in place until police arrived.
The mother’s partner described her as a hero in an email he wrote to the Manly Observer last month.
“My partner was heroic in her endeavours and by confronting the man, and effectively making a citizens arrest, lead to police getting [an alleged offender] off the streets.”
Antonio, Frenchs Forest local, has been released on strict conditional bail and will again appear in court on 29 October.
