BRAIN COCKER AND SHOCKING UPSKIRT FILMING IN PERTH
A disturbing case has emerged involving Brian Cocker, a man from Perth who engaged in covert and highly invasive acts targeting a woman in the city.Cocker secretly attached a tiny camera to the woman's clothing, aiming to capture upskirt videos without her knowledge or consent.
The illicit footage was discovered on his mobile phone during a routine police visit, alongside a collection of child pornography files labeled "Candid Teens." Cocker, aged 36, was subject to a conduct order that prohibited him from entering playparks and other locations frequented by children, reflecting his previous criminal history.
Despite these restrictions, he was found to have committed further offenses.
The court was informed that police officers, during a standard visit, uncovered the footage and the disturbing material on his device.
The footage clearly depicted a female known to Cocker, and the images included close-up shots of her genitals, buttocks, and underwear, taken while she was unaware.
Between April 20 and July 19, 2021, Cocker admitted to operating recording equipment beneath a woman's clothing with the intent to observe her private parts.
His actions aimed to capture images of her bending over and to photograph her genital area surreptitiously.
In addition to this voyeuristic conduct, Cocker also pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children, which he stored between November 25, 2020, and July 24, 2021.
His criminal record includes a previous conviction from 2014 for grooming a 15-year-old girl for sex, a crime that resulted in a ten-month prison sentence.
During that earlier case, Cocker had supplied alcohol to the underage girl during frequent meetings, despite knowing her age.
Police had previously visited his home, where he handed over his mobile phone, which contained a folder of disturbing child pornography images.
The images depicted children as young as 14, and further investigation revealed the voyeuristic footage of the woman he had secretly filmed.
Defending Cocker, solicitor Linda Clark stated that her client had voluntarily engaged with the "Stop It Now" program, attending thirty sessions to address his behavior.
She emphasized that Cocker expressed genuine remorse and regret for his actions.
Clark also noted that Cocker had managed to abstain from similar offending for ten years, and suggested that, given the time elapsed since his last conviction, alternative measures could be considered instead of immediate imprisonment.
However, the court was advised that Cocker is classified as being at medium risk of reoffending sexually.
Sheriff Jennifer Bain KC acknowledged the seriousness of the case, noting that a custodial sentence was a significant consideration, and made it clear that the risk of reoffending weighed heavily in her decision.
This case highlights the ongoing concerns about privacy violations and child exploitation, with authorities emphasizing the importance of monitoring and addressing such criminal behaviors to protect vulnerable individuals in Perth and beyond.
