Principe Antonio: Fresh charge for Frenchs Forest man already facing 17 ‘upskirting’ allegations

A man accused of filming up a 12-year-old girl’s skirt, using a camera attached to his shoe, has been hit with another charge in relation to what his lawyer described as “movies”.

Principe Antonio outside Manly Local Court. Picture: Manly Daily

An alleged serial “upskirter”, accused of using a video camera attached to his shoe to film up a 12-year-old girl’s dress in a department store, has been hit with a fresh charge.

Principe Antonio, 55, allegedly possessed child abuse material in the form of videos and photos, according to a new charge document tendered to Manly Local Court on Tuesday.

The latest charge follows police arresting the Frenchs Forest man at Warriewood Square shopping centre on July 22, after he was allegedly seen filming the girl at Kmart.

After his arrest, police went to his home and uncovered a number of items allegedly linked to “upskirting”, which is defined as taking a photograph or video from a position that allows someone to look up a dress or skirt without the permission of the person wearing it.

Antonio was charged as a result with 16 counts of filming a person’s private parts without consent, over incidents alleged to have occurred at Warriewood and Chatswood during an almost three-month period beginning on May 1.

Principe Antonio now faces a total of 18 charges. Picture: Manly Daily

In relation to the 12-year-old girl at Kmart, Antonio was charged with a single count of producing child abuse material.

On Tuesday, the court heard police had also now charged the 55-year-old with a further offence of possessing child abuse material.

Police arrested Principe Antonio at Warriewood Square. File picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

The material was described in court documents as two videos and eight photographs.

Antonio has also been charged with three counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, at Frenchs Forest, without a permit.

He is yet to enter a plea to any of the charges.

His Legal Aid solicitor asked on Tuesday for an adjournment so she could view the evidence relating to the new charge.

“I have to watch the movies,” the solicitor said.

The solicitor told the court that once she had viewed the videos, a decision would be made in relation to the pleas her client would enter.

Antonio is currently on strict conditional bail.

The conditions include a ban on entering any shopping centre, playground, school ground or “any place where children may be”.

Antonio must not have a dashcam, or other device, in his possession that may be used for filming, apart from one mobile phone and a single laptop or tablet.

He also cannot possess, or have access to, an encrypted communication device, or possess or use an encrypted app, such as Hushmail and Signal.

Antonio is required to report daily to Dee Why Police Station and bring any laptop or tablet in his possession with him so it can be examined.

Magistrate Lisa Stapleton adjourned all of Antonio’s matters to January 14 next year.