Voyeur police officer sentenced

A Special Branch police officer caught filming up the skirts of women has been given a two year community order.

Peter Allen was caught by two plain clothed police officers filming women sitting in Trafalgar Square with a hand-held camcorder in July 2006.

The 45-year-old pleaded guilty to three charges of voyeurism and three charges of committing an act outraging public indecency, at Southwark Crown Court.

Allen will remain on the sex offenders' register for five years.

The court heard he had left the police since his arrest, bringing an end to his "unblemished" 25-year career, and had fully co-operated with the investigation.

It may be, your honour, that something was bound to give Kevin Baumber, defence

When the two officers approached Allen to ask what he was doing, he immediately produced his police identification card but the officers pressed him further and asked what was on his camera.

Within a short time Allen admitted he was taking pictures of women, adding that he was an "idiot" and saying: "I am so sorry, this will ruin everything."

Police later searched his house in Romford, Essex, where they found more footage of a woman in her home dressing, wearing her underwear, and in some cases naked from the waist up.

Defence counsel Kevin Baumber said Allen had been under stress from his career, which had involved high pressured and dangerous roles including a firearms placement, a role in the protection team for the Israeli Ambassador and later a placement in counter terrorism.

He had been commended for his bravery while arresting a "drug crazed martial artist", and had witnessed "horrific sights" at an IRA bombing in central London.

Mr Baumber told the judge: "It may be, your honour, that something was bound to give."