London Sex Pest Jailed After Police Catch Him Taking Upskirting Photos in Soho
A man who targeted young women in central London's Soho district, taking intrusive 'upskirting' photographs, has been sentenced to prison following a police operation that captured his predatory behaviour. James Manchand, a 62-year-old resident of Camden in north London, was observed by officers repeatedly pacing along queues outside busy venues in the capital's West End on the evening of Friday, January 16 this year.
Police Surveillance Leads to Arrest
Plain-clothed Metropolitan Police officers initially suspected Manchand was scouting for potential thefts and began monitoring him more closely. When he continued to hover around groups of young women, uniformed officers intervened to carry out a search. After providing his details, police checks revealed Manchand was a known offender with an active Sexual Harm Prevention Order for a previous voyeurism offence.
Under the terms of this order, Manchand was required to hand over his mobile phone and unlock it for inspection. Upon opening the device, officers immediately discovered 29 videos involving more than 20 different victims, all filmed that same evening in Soho. He was arrested at the scene.
Evidence and Sentencing
Westminster magistrates have now sentenced Manchand to a total of 20 months in prison. The sentence includes:
- 12 months' imprisonment for each of two breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, to run concurrently
- Four months behind bars for recording images under clothing, to run consecutively
- A further four months from a previously suspended sentence, now activated by the court to run consecutively
The court also ordered Manchand to forfeit a laptop and mobile phone. Police discovered he had been using Virtual Private Network software to erase cookies and browsing history, both prohibited under his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Police Response and Public Warning
Detective Constable Sam Pearson, who led the investigation, stated: 'Manchand's predatory behaviour was calculated, persistent and showed a complete disregard for the women he targeted. Thanks to the vigilance and quick instincts of officers on patrol, we were able to intervene before he could continue offending and recover clear evidence that he had committed multiple voyeurism offences in a single evening.'
Commander Clair Kelland, the Met's public protection lead, added: 'Voyeurism can take many forms, but at its core it is a blatant intrusion into someone's privacy, often carried out in crowded or busy places where victims may not immediately realise what has happened. There is absolutely no excuse for this behaviour.'
Kelland urged Londoners to remain vigilant: 'If you see someone behaving in a way that feels predatory or attempting to film under clothing, please report it to officers or venue staff straight away. Your quick action could prevent someone from being targeted.'
Operation Context
The officers who apprehended Manchand were deployed under Operation Martello, an initiative aimed at targeting theft and pickpocketing hotspots across London's West End. The arrest occurred during a Live Facial Recognition Operation on Tottenham Court Road in central London.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to protect women and girls from sexual offences in public spaces, with police emphasizing that no one should have to worry about being violated while simply enjoying a night out in the city.
