Peeping Tom fights for bail

“I'm disappointed in myself ... it was disgraceful and shameful. I do not know how to face my two daughters,” a sobbing Gavin Booth said on Wednesday at the Swakopmund Magistrate's Court. Booth testified during his bail hearing and said that the prison sentence imposed was “too heavy”.Booth was sentenced to a year in prison on March 19 after he was convicted of housebreaking with intent to commit crimen injuria. Booth was charged with taking photos of a showering female tourist and was identified thanks to CCTV footage. After he was found guilty he appealed against the sentence. The judgment is expected in “about six months” which is why he launched a formal bail application.During the bail hearing he testified that the photos taken by him were “blurry” and that he immediately deleted them. “I acted out of impulse, but I immediately felt sick to the core and was disappointed,” he said. He is currently in prison and has since been “reborn” – and has “found God”. “I started a new chapter in my life,” Booth said, crying. “I've been baptised in prison and attend almost every service.”Booth is from Pretoria and is employed as an export and sales manager for an international firm, responsible for the entire SADC region. He wishes to return to South Africa if he is granted bail. “If the High Court decides that I have to serve the remainder of my sentence, then I'll do it without question,” he promised. Blaine Carstens, his boss, testified on Booth's behalf yesterday.“The act was completely out of his character. He's a role model for the young staff,” Carstens said. “He's punctual, reliable, and if he stays in prison, it will negatively impact the entire company.”During Booth's cross-examination, prosecutor Latoya Katjitundu said Booth had “no chance of a successful appeal in the High Court”. “You got off very lightly as housebreaking is a serious offence and usually longer prison sentences are imposed,” she said. The court was “very lenient”. She added that should Booth be granted bail, he could easily abscond, as he had no family members or possessions in Namibia.“I would not abscond. I'm an honourable man and keep to my word,” Booth replied. Booth was represented by Marinus Scholtz. The case before Magistrate Nelao Brown was postponed to next week Tuesday.ERWIN LEUSCHNER

Peeping Tom fights for bail

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-03

Please login to leave a comment

Peeping Tom fights for bail

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-03

Please login to leave a comment

Login