A London Sex Offender, Jake Verano Gomez, has been incarcerated following the observance of an off-duty police officer who witnessed him engaging in the act of ‘upskirting’ a woman at the British Museum and swiftly detained him.
The prompt response of the City of London Police officer facilitated the initiation of an inquiry by the Metropolitan Police officers into the individual, who was discovered to possess a series of such films on his mobile device.
Authorities are urging women who believe they may have also been subjected to victimisation to come forward to receive assistance and support.
Jake Verano Gomez, a 33-year-old Colombian citizen with no permanent residence, was convicted and sentenced to four months in prison by the Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, August 21. He pleaded guilty to the charge of secretly recording an image of another person without their consent by placing a camera under their clothing.
Additionally, he will be required to comply with the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and register with the police for a period of up to seven years.
On Monday, 19 August, a City of London official observed a man clandestinely recording a video while the victim remained oblivious.
With the assistance of museum workers and security, she promptly apprehended the man before Metropolitan officers arrived and placed him under arrest.
Upon arrival, the victim received assistance from the Museum’s Visitor Services and Metropolitan (Met) officers.
Detective Constable Holly Wright, a member of the Public Protection team responsible for Camden, expressed that these offences have a profound and destructive effect on women and girls, who should have the freedom to live their lives without the constant fear of becoming victims of such horrendous crimes.
Thankfully, the involvement of our colleague from the City of London Police has resulted in Gomez being apprehended and held accountable for his actions.
After Jake Verano Gomez was arrested, Metropolitan investigators examined his phone and uncovered many films of other victims, which are thought to have been filmed on the same day. Regrettably, this implies that there may be a larger number of women who are oblivious to the fact that they have been subjected to criminal acts.
“If you were at the British Museum on Monday, 19 August, around 14:00hrs and think you may have been a victim, I ask you to come forward and speak to us.”
Please call 101 or post @MetCC reference CAD 4342/19Aug.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.