Man filmed women with shoe camera

A voyeur used cameras hidden in one of his trainers and in a shoulder bag to secretly film up women's skirts.

Paul David Gay, 46, from Finsbury Park, north London, hoped to sell his illegal footage on the internet.

Police found four films on Gay when they arrested him in Trafalgar Square in July 2004, and a further 12 at his home, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Gay admitted four charges of making a public nuisance and was released on bail for pre-sentence reports.

'Appear innocuous'

The court heard how self-employed consultant Gay attached a miniature, upward-pointing camera onto the tongue of one of his trainers, prosecutor James Norman said.

Gay also fitted a rear-facing camera into a shoulder bag, which enabled him to face away from a victim while images were transmitted to a hand-held camcorder, allowing Gay to adjust his position "for the best shots".

The crucial difference between paparazzi photography and what you were doing is that those photographed by the paparazzi are aware that that is happening Recorder Martin Beddoe

"To most people it would appear he was filming something quite innocuous," Mr Norman said.

However, police became suspicious by his "constant manoeuvrings" in central London's Trafalgar Square.

They found four "high-quality" videos on Gay and a dozen more at his home. These included footage taken inside women's toilets and showers, although there was no proof that Gay had filmed it.

Allan Goh, defending, said Gay's intention had been to "set up a website and market this sort of material for profit".

When interviewed by police, Gay insisted he had done nothing wrong.

He described himself as "no different from paparazzi photographers" who photographed female celebrities revealing their underwear "climbing in and out of cars".

Recorder Martin Beddoe responded: "The crucial difference in my view between paparazzi photography and what you were doing is that those photographed by the paparazzi are aware that that is happening, whereas your victims were not aware what you were doing and gave no consent to your activities."

He warned Gay that he took a "very serious view of this sort of offending". Gay will be sentenced on 19 October.