PAVEL BEITANS PLEADS GUILTY IN PLYMOUTH FOR UP-SKIRT FILMING INCIDENTS
In March 2015, Pavels Beitans, an Estonian man residing on Penrose Street in Stonehouse, Plymouth, faced serious allegations in connection with a series of indecent filming incidents involving young girls.Beitans appeared before Plymouth Magistrates Court after admitting to ten counts of outraging public decency through indecent behavior.
The case drew significant attention due to the disturbing nature of the offenses and the locations involved.
Prosecutor Gareth Warden outlined the details of the case, explaining that Beitans, who was born in Latvia but identified as an Estonian citizen, was observed by a shopper inside the Primark store located in Drake Circus on October 4 of the previous year.
Store security personnel, monitoring the premises via CCTV, noticed Beitans acting suspiciously.
They observed him carrying a mobile phone and repeatedly bending down behind a young woman dressed in a short skirt.
This suspicious behavior prompted security to alert the police.
When police officers intercepted Beitans outside Drake Circus, they discovered that the mobile phone he carried was still running a video application.
Further examination revealed multiple videos stored on the device, all of which had been recorded over the previous few months.
These videos included footage taken at various locations around Plymouth, such as the Primark store, a car boot sale at Plymouth Argyle football ground, Mayflower Street, inside a Superdrug store, Wilkinsons, Poundland, and Boots within the shopping mall.
The earliest recorded incident dated back to July 30 of the previous year.
Prosecutor Warden stated that out of 48 video files found on Beitans’s phone, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was bringing ten specific charges.
These videos depicted young girls’ legs, underwear, and in one case, a bare buttock, captured from beneath their skirts.
The ages of the victims ranged from as young as ten to teenagers, with investigators noting that some of the girls appeared to be under 16.
One particularly disturbing video showed a girl in a very short pink dress at the Argyle car boot sale, estimated to be as young as ten years old.
Police investigations revealed that Beitans had often filmed the faces of his victims, possibly in an attempt to identify them later, although none of the girls could be identified and they remain unaware of being filmed.
During police interviews, Beitans admitted to being present in the stores but claimed he was only there to buy socks.
He declined to answer further questions, replying with a no comment.
As the case was read out in court, Beitans was visibly emotional, and a Russian-speaking interpreter provided him with tissues to dab his tears.
His defense lawyer, Graham Kinchin, referenced a pre-sentence report prepared by probation services, describing Beitans as deeply remorseful and extremely fearful of imprisonment.
The lawyer also mentioned that Beitans had sought psychiatric help and that his general practitioner had arranged a meeting with a sex therapist.
The therapist concluded that the incident was triggered by severe nervous stress stemming from a previous relationship breakdown.
The court’s chairman acknowledged that Beitans’s behavior was “totally unacceptable,” but also took into account his early guilty plea and remorse.
The judge sentenced him to 16 weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months.
Additionally, Beitans was ordered to complete a 12-month supervision order, undertake 150 hours of unpaid work, and forfeit his mobile phone.
He was also required to pay costs of £40, an £80 victim surcharge, and to comply with a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years.
This order prohibits him from owning or using photographic equipment, taking images of children, and requires him to leave his contact details with police.
Any breach of this order could result in a prison sentence of up to five years.
During the proceedings, Beitans expressed his gratitude to the court and police, stating through the interpreter that he was thankful for being stopped from committing further harm.
He admitted feeling very guilty and remorseful for his actions.
He also praised the English justice system, describing it as “very just and very fair,” and committed himself to making amends and showing respect for the country.
His words reflected a recognition of the gravity of his offenses and a desire to atone for his misconduct.
