Golden Sheaf Hotel worker caught peeping into women’s windows
A peeping Tom was caught stalking two women and has now been sentenced.
Cellar manager at popular Sydney pub, The Golden Sheaf, Victor De Sa Mendes Junior, 34, faced the Waverley Local Court last week and plead guilty to two counts of peep or pry and stalk/intimidate.
The Brazilian national and permanent resident in Australia, was convicted and handed a 12-month community correction order for both offences. He was also convicted for the stalk/intimidate charge and fined $350.
According to agreed facts, one victim heard footsteps and rustling at her window after she had taken a shower.
The victim screamed then checked all doors were locked and called the police.
A neighbour noticed a “piece of cardboard leaning up against the outside of her window”.
A Domino’s pizza box was found with a 20-cent size hole cut in the middle, which made the victim feel “anxious”.
Police reviewed CCTV footage and took photos. The footage showed Junior in the courtyard with his large calf tattoo visible.
“[Junior] has used the chair to … look into the victim’s window and has used the Domino’s pizza box to conceal his face,” agreed facts revealed.
When a forensic analysis was conducted on the pizza box it matched Junior’s DNA and he was arrested.
The second incident occurred just over a month later on 29 November, with agreed facts revealing Junior had “climbed up the ledge” of the unit and peered into the victim’s bedroom.
A witness saw Junior peering in several windows and confronted the perpetrator onlt to be told he was searching for his lost cat.
“When asked why he would need to look through the bedroom window to find his lost cat, [Junior] did not provide an answer,” agreed facts state.
The victim and a friend followed Junior for about 30 minutes and later gave police Junior’s car registration details.
At first Junior denied allegations, before pleading guilty.
Junior’s lawyer, said it has been a “deeply embarrassing” time for his client saying his level of intelligence was “rather basic when you do talk to him”.
The lawyer stated that on reflection Junior understood the “significance of these matters”.
“I said [to Junior] if it was to be repeated it is very likely that he would find himself [with a] custodial term.”
Magistrate Ross Hudson said, “Someone in their own house … has the right to their own terms of privacy.
“It’s not opportunistic, this is planned to a degree … premeditation.
“You have a fiance, bring it back to basics, you would expect (from anyone else for) her not being looked at,” Magistrate Hudson said.
“The court will not be a toothless tiger … individuals who are absolutely vulnerable and should trust that the house they are in is secure [without a] predator outside observing what you are doing.”
Jonathan Jackson - 24-1-23
