A resident of Hainaut born in 2001 was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with a suspended probation, deprived of his civil and political rights for five years, and had his computer and smartphone confiscated by the Correctional Court of Walloon Brabant. The young man was caught filming a lady while she was changing in the cabins of the Braine-l’Alleud swimming pool in May 2022. After a first alert in March 2022 for similar behavior, without the young man being caught, the staff monitored him closely as he regularly frequented the premises.
Investigators who explored his phone discovered photos taken on thirteen different dates in the Braine pool. Moreover, police found images taken without the knowledge of the defendant’s mother, while the lady was in a jacuzzi with her new companion, and of the defendant’s best friend while she thought she was out of sight showering in her bathroom. The defense lawyer did not dispute the accusations of voyeurism by recording and laid blame on his client’s behavior on personal difficulties, loneliness, and great “relational misery.”
The imposed sanction is in accordance with the requisitions of the public prosecutor at the hearing. The suspended probation granted obliges the defendant, among other things, to no longer frequent public swimming pools, undergo therapy and enlist in a center for perpetrators of sexual offenses.
The correctional court of Walloon Brabant on Thursday sentenced a resident of Hainaut born in 2001 to one year’s imprisonment with a suspended probation, deprived him of his civil and political rights for five years and confiscated his computer as well as his smartphone. The young man had been surprised, in May 2022, filming a lady while she was changing in the cabins of the Braine-l’Alleud swimming pool.
Regularly frequenting the premises, he was monitored by staff following a first alert given in March 2022 for similar facts, but without the young man being caught in the act.
The investigators who exploited his mobile phone actually discovered photos taken on thirteen different dates in the brain pool. In the device, the police also found images taken without the knowledge of the defendant’s mother, while the lady was in a jacuzzi with her new companion. And other photos of the defendant’s best friend while she thought she was out of sight showering in her bathroom.
The accusations of voyeurism by recording were not disputed by the defense lawyer, who blamed his client’s behavior on personal difficulties, loneliness and great “relational misery”.
The sanction imposed Thursday is in accordance with the requisitions of the public prosecutor at the hearing. The suspended probation granted obliges the defendant in particular to no longer frequent public swimming pools, to undergo therapy and to undergo guidance in a center for perpetrators of sexual offences.
This disturbing case of voyeurism serves as a stark reminder of the importance of respecting privacy and boundaries, especially in public spaces such as swimming pools. The severe punishment handed down by the correctional court of Walloon Brabant sends a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated, and that those who engage in them will face serious consequences. It is hoped that the suspended probation granted to the defendant will provide him with the necessary guidance and therapy to address his issues and prevent such behavior from occurring in the future. Ultimately, this case highlights the need for greater awareness and education around the issue of privacy and consent, both in public spaces and in our personal relationships.
