A Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism detective sex offender, DI Neil Corbel, who clandestinely recorded models during fraudulent photoshoots has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Detective Inspector Neil Corbel perpetrated his offences in hotel rooms and Airbnbs located in London, Brighton, and Manchester.
He employed cameras concealed behind tissue boxes, phone chargers, and spectacles to record ladies. Isleworth Crown Court was informed that one model’s life had been “entirely disrupted”.
The 40-year-old, Neil Corbel, confessed to 19 charges of voyeurism.
The model reported to the court in a victim impact statement that she had developed bald spots due to hair pulling induced by stress.
During Neil CorbelCorbel’s sentencing, Judge Martin Edmunds QC referenced the impact statements presented, wherein two additional victims conveyed their distress to the court.
The officer, identified by the court as a documented sex addict, asserted that he was an airline pilot with a passion for photography. He encountered numerous victims using an internet platform named PurplePort, coordinating photoshoots with them.
Neil Corbel engaged sixteen people as models, while three other individuals were escorts or sex workers who consented to sexual activity but did not consent to being recorded, stated prosecutor Babatunde Alabi.
A Metropolitan Police officer surreptitiously recorded me while I was unclothed.
Judge Edmunds stated: “The disclosure to your victims that you were an active police officer has significantly eroded their trust in law enforcement, which is particularly grave for those individuals due to their respective professions. Similarly, the revelation of your misconduct must affect public confidence.”
Neil Corbel reserved the Leonardo Royal London Tower Bridge hotel for a photoshoot, as stated in court.
In 2019, one victim confronted Neil Corbel upon discovering a set of glasses equipped with a charging connector during a massage session.
He was ultimately apprehended after a woman grew wary that a digital clock in a hotel room could harbour a camera.
The case was sent to crown court for sentencing because of the gravity of the police officer’s offences, which occurred between 2017 and 2020.
Neil Corbel has been suspended by the Metropolitan Police on full pay.
The model, who recounted how her life had been disrupted, stated in court: “This experience has impacted every facet of my life.”
I am accustomed to taking measured chances; nonetheless, I now decline opportunities.
I have been undergoing therapy since that time. I experience paranoia, hypervigilance, and panic episodes. I am a model, and a significant aspect of this profession is founded on reciprocal trust.
“I have excessively extracted my own hair due to stress, resulting in bald patches and necessitating the rejection of employment opportunities.”
Another woman addressing the court regarding the ramifications of Corbel’s offences stated, “His status as a policeman is significant.”
These individuals are designated to safeguard us. The murder of Sarah Everard has rendered this a particularly alarming period for women. If the police are unable to ensure our safety, what actions may we take?
In mitigation, Neil Corbel’s counsel, Edward Henry QC, contended that his client’s identified sexual addiction contributed to his offences.
Mr. Henry informed the court that Neil Corbel’s addiction commenced in his boyhood and finally culminated in the termination of his 13-year career in law enforcement.
He stated: “Its origins lie in his prepubescent life, which overwhelmed him, devastated his career, nearly ruined him, and harmed his undeserving yet loyal wife and family.”
The fact that he was a police officer is irrelevant to the perpetration of this offence.
Not a single cent of police funds has been misappropriated. Nor was it ever conducted during police hours.
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