British Museum Upskirting Incident Leads to Jail Sentence for Offender

A shocking incident at the British Museum has led to the jailing of Jake Verano Gomez, a Colombian national, after he was caught upskirting by an off-duty police officer. The incident occurred on 19th August, when Gomez was spotted recording a video under a woman’s clothing by a female City of London police officer who was visiting the museum. Gomez’s actions have resulted in a four-month prison sentence, highlighting the severity of the crime under the Voyeurism Offences Act, which was introduced in 2019.

Gomez, who has no fixed address, was found with similar videos on his phone, suggesting he had targeted other women at the museum that day. The police have urged any women who were at the British Museum on the afternoon of 19th August, and suspect they may have been filmed without their consent to come forward. Det Con Holly Wright expressed the deep impact such crimes have on women and girls, stating, “These kinds of offences have a devastating impact on women and girls, who should be free to go about their lives without fear of being the victim of such a horrendous crime.”

The off-duty officer who witnessed the offence quickly detained Gomez with the assistance of museum staff, ensuring his immediate arrest. The victim was provided support by both museum employees and police officers on site. Following the arrest, detectives from the Met Police analysed Gomez’s phone and discovered multiple videos of other unsuspecting victims, further amplifying the seriousness of his actions.

Det Con Wright emphasised the need for any potential victims to reach out, urging those who were at the museum around 14:00 on 19th August, to contact authorities if they believe they were targeted. “Sadly, this may mean there are more women who are unaware that they have been the victim of crime,” she added, highlighting the importance of public awareness and vigilance in such cases.

The crime of upskirting, which involves taking a photo or video under someone’s clothing without their knowledge, was criminalised under the Voyeurism Offences Act in 2019, reflecting the growing recognition of the need to protect individuals’ privacy and dignity in public spaces.

For more information on your rights and how to report incidents like upskirting, visit Citizens Advice, which provides guidance on dealing with such crimes and seeking support.