A creep has been jailed for four years after police officers caught him filming through women’s windows in the middle of the night.
Anthony Durkan, 35, carried out a ‘calculated and deeply intrusive’ campaign of voyeurism in the Islington area of north London over six years between January 2020 and March this year.
The Met Police set up dedicated patrols after two women reported being filmed through the windows of their homes.
In each incident, a man clad all in black and wearing a balaclava was recorded walking up to the properties under cover of darkness and holding a camera up to one of the windows.
On the very first night of patrols, officers in an unmarked police car spotted Durkan approach an address and do the same thing.
He was arrested moments later.
A review of his mobile phone uncovered a hidden gallery containing hundreds of images and videos of women.
Further examination revealed extensive evidence of further offending going back years, prompting detectives to comb back through historic crime reports where no suspect was identified.
This led to Durkan being linked to offenses dating back to January 2020.
Officers found 99 images and 162 videos on the devices and are still establishing how many different women they relate to.
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Durkan admitted a total of 26 voyeurism charges and was jailed for four years at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Detectives said the book still isn’t closed on Durkan despite his convictions and sentencing and have urged anyone else who thinks they may have been affected to come forward.
‘Officers are particularly keen to hear from women in Islington and north London between January 2020 and March 2026 who may have noticed unusual activity around their home, especially late at night or in the early hours of the morning,’ a Met spokesperson said.
Detective Chief Inspector Gemma Alger, whose team led the investigation, said: ‘Durkan carried out a calculated and deeply intrusive campaign of offending, targeting women in what should have been the safety and privacy of their own homes.
‘Many victims had no idea they were being watched and filmed.
‘This investigation was driven by the determination of officers to act on reports from local women and identify the perpetrator.
‘Through proactive patrols, officers were able to spot Durkan carrying out the same offending behavior and arrest him before more women could be targeted.
‘I would like to thank the victims for the courage they showed in coming forward and supporting this investigation.
‘Their actions, alongside the proactive work of officers who identified and stopped Durkan’s offending, have undoubtedly prevented further harm.’
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