Szymon Kornet was caught on CCTV entering his ex-wife’s home
Szymon Kornet(Image: Merseyside Police)
A man was found to be in the possession of upskirting videos after he was caught stealing items from his ex-wife’s house.
Szymon Kornet was identified when his former partner, Magdelena Kornet, set up a CCTV camera in order to find out who had been entering her home and helping themselves to her belongings.
Ms Kornet later discovered that her ex-husband had saved a series of disturbing sexual images to their 11-year-old daughter’s iPad.
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Kornet had secretly recorded pictures and videos up unsuspecting women’s skirts and of another victim undressing.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday, August 28, that Kornet and his ex-wife had been in a relationship for around 10 years before they separated in 2017.
On February 10 last year, she noticed that a number of items had gone missing from her home on Miranda Place in Kirkdale, Liverpool Echo reports.
David Watson, prosecuting, said these included perfume, a bottle of whisky and fish from the fridge.
Ms Kornet purchased a CCTV camera and set it up in the hallway of the property to try and catch the intruder in the act.
This led to Kornet, of Ruskin Street in Walton, being filmed entering the address shortly after midnight on March 27.
While the 51-year-old was wearing a face covering and hat at the time, Ms Kornet “recognised the movements and clothing of the male and knew it to be the defendant”.
He seemingly gained access with a key that had been given to his daughter.
He initially denied being responsible after she confronted him at his home, but later transferred £200 into her bank account when she demanded the return of her possessions in a series of text messages.
Two weeks later, Ms Kornet realised that one of her dresses was missing. He thereafter apologised and returned the item, but maintained that he had not taken other clothing which had disappeared.
On July 25, their daughter returned home to Ms Kornet’s address in possession of an iPad which she ordinarily kept at her father’s house.
Ms Kornet then discovered a series of images on the device which showed another woman being filmed without her knowledge while undressing.
Police subsequently seized further electronic goods from Kornet following his arrest, on which officers found six “upskirting” videos of several different women.
Mr Watson added of these recordings, which had apparently been captured during 2022: “It is plain that the women involved had no idea that they were being filmed in this way.”
Kornet has no previous convictions. Brian Kennedy, defending, told the court: “It is clear that he has offered his sincere apology. There are also signs of a determination to address his offending behaviour.
“He refers to himself as a changed man and has referred to having a sexual disorder. There is an indication of a degree of insight there.
“He has a strong work record. It is submitted that there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. He has expressed a willingness to desist from offending.
“Immediate custody, it is suggested, would result in a significant harmful impact upon others, namely his daughter. He sees her twice a week.
“He accepts that it was negligent for her to have the iPad with that material on it, but he is very much part of her life and vice versa.”
Kornet, who was assisted by an interpreter during the hearing, admitted burglary, voyeurism and recording images beneath the clothing of another without consent.
He sat with his head bowed and appeared to be on the verge of tears as he was jailed for 15 months and told to sign the sex offenders’ register for seven years.
Recorder Richard Pratt KC said of the victim in the voyeurism offence during sentencing: “She was shocked and disgusted when it was brought to her attention that you had behaved in that way.
“By transferring images onto the iPad which your daughter had possession of, it plainly gave rise to a risk that she would see things that no 11-year-old should.”
The judge went on to label Kornet’s filming up women’s skirts as a “disgraceful act”.
He said: “Of course, these women had no idea that you were doing this. It is an offence that causes very great distress, involving a serious invasion of privacy.”
Turning to the burglary, Recorder Pratt added: “There was some degree of planning. I take into account the fact that you have, at least, returned items and made a payment into her account.
“The offending took place over a number of years. I do take into account your work record and have had particular regard to your relationship with your daughter.
“It is said that there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. There is strong personal mitigation, particularly your good character. I fully recognise that immediate custody is likely to result in a harmful impact on others, in particular your daughter.
“Your conduct in behaving in this way does present, in my view, a risk or danger to the public that you would continue to act in this way, particularly in respect of the upskirting offence.
“Ultimately, I consider the gravity of your offending and its cumulative effect can only be met by immediate custody.”
Help and support
Stop It Now is a child protection charity, working to prevent child sex abuse. Their confidential service is for anyone with concerns about child sexual abuse and its prevention – whether you’re worried about your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviour, or about another adult or young person.
Safer Lives is a service for people under investigation for offences involving indecent images, sexual communications, voyeurism, or indecent exposure.
The Marie Collins Foundation Services Supporting Families of Child Sexual Abuse Material Offending offers a support to help partners or family members of those who have been arrested on suspicion of accessing indecent images of children.
