Alex Allegretto, 39, has been sentenced for upskirting a young girl in a Cardiff shopping centre after the victim's mother confronted him as he tried to flee. The incident took place on the morning of July 7 inside St David's 2 shopping centre, where CCTV captured Allegretto walking closely behind the girl before placing his mobile phone beneath her skirt.
The mother spotted the act and challenged Allegretto as he ran towards Churchill Way. Police later tracked him to his car parked nearby, then to Fitzalan Road. Further checks identified Allegretto as a named driver on the vehicle, and he was arrested at his home in Maesteg, South Wales, four days later.
Guilty plea and sentencing
Allegretto admitted the offence of operating a mobile phone beneath the clothing of another person for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on August 5. The court ordered him to register with the police for five years under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, complete 140 hours of unpaid work, and undergo Rehabilitation Activity Requirements.
Detectives said the encounter has left the girl anxious and worried about anyone walking behind her. Sergeant Luis Antony of South Wales Police said: 'Everyone has the right to feel safe, wherever they are, and nobody should be subjected to this kind of offence.'
Police praise CCTV work
Sergeant Antony added: 'This incident continues to have an impact on the victim. She is worried about people walking behind her and is anxious when out and about. Through extensive CCTV enquiries we were able to track the suspect before, during and after the offence. The footage clearly shows Alex Allegretto's intentions and what he did to this young girl while she was innocently out shopping with her mother. We hope the outcome at court provides some comfort to her and allows her to rebuild her confidence.'
South Wales Police said: 'Excellent CCTV work by detectives resulted in this person being brought to justice for upskirting in Cardiff city centre. We follow up as many investigative options as possible, including CCTV, to trace those responsible for committing crime and to get justice for victims. And in this case, it proved crucial.'
Upskirting law and its impact
Upskirting became a criminal offence in England and Wales in April 2019 after campaigning by victims. Gina Martin was targeted at The Killers concert in Hyde Park in 2017, when a voyeur took a picture of her crotch. She reported it to police but found the man had not broken any laws, sparking a campaign that saw thousands of women share their experiences before the legal change.
Since upskirting became a crime under the Voyeurism Act, police forces have logged more than 1,000 incidents, including hundreds of cases involving child victims. Britain's public transport network has also seen a rise in upskirting crime, with hundreds of women targeted while travelling since 2021.
