Key Points
- Alex Allegretto, 39, of Maesteg, was jailed in Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on August 5 after admitting upskirting charges.
- He took a video of a girl’s underwear while she was shopping with her mother at St David’s 2 shopping centre, Cardiff.
- The incident came to the notice of police on July 7 morning when a woman reported that an unknown man had recorded videos under her daughter’s skirt before running towards Churchill Way.
- Detectives used CCTV footage of the shopping centre and followed Allegretto to his vehicle parked at Fitzalan Road, identifying him as a named driver of the vehicle.
- The offender was later arrested from his residence, four days after committing the offence.
- Allegretto admitted using mobile phone under the dress of another individual with intent to obtain sexual gratification.
- Allegretto was made to do 140 hours of community service and Rehabilitation Activity Requirement by the court.
- Under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, he would have to be registered with the police for five years.
- According to South Wales Police, the incident had left the girl worried while going out in public places.
Cardiff Crime (Wales Times) August 20, 2026 – A man who filmed up a girl’s skirt while she was shopping with her mother has been sentenced after police tracked him through CCTV footage at a uk/local/cardiff/">Cardiff shopping centre. As reported by Nation.Cymru staff, Alex Allegretto, 39, of Maesteg, was identified after officers followed his movements from St David’s 2 shopping centre in Cardiff back to his car. The case, which concluded at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on August 5, has prompted fresh warnings from South Wales Police about the seriousness of upskirting offences and the lasting impact they can have on victims.
The Incident at St David’s 2
Police were called on the morning of July 7 after a woman reported that an unknown man had filmed up her daughter’s skirt before running away towards Churchill Way. Detectives examined CCTV footage and tracked the suspect to a vehicle parked in Fitzalan Road. Further enquiries established that Allegretto was a named driver of the car, and he was arrested at his home four days later.
Guilty Plea and Court Outcome
Allegretto admitted operating a mobile phone beneath another person’s clothing for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on August 5. The court ordered him to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work and to complete rehabilitation activity requirements. In addition, he must register with the police under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for five years.
Impact on the Victim
South Wales Police said the offence had left the victim anxious when out in public and worried about people walking behind her. Sergeant Luis Antony, the officer in the case, said:
“Everyone has the right to feel safe, wherever they are, and nobody should be subjected to this kind of offence.”
“This incident continues to have an impact on the victim. She is worried about people walking behind her and is anxious when out and about,” Sergeant Antony added.
“Through extensive CCTV enquiries we were able to track the suspect before, during and after the offence. The footage clearly shows Alex Allegretto’s intentions and what he did to this young girl while she was innocently out shopping with her mother. We hope the outcome at court provides some comfort to her and allows her to rebuild her confidence.”
How the Investigation Unfolded
The investigation relied heavily on CCTV analysis. Officers traced Allegretto’s movements from the shopping centre, where the offence took place, to his vehicle in Fitzalan Road. Establishing that he was a named driver of the car allowed detectives to identify him and make an arrest at his home four days after the incident was reported. The swift progression from report to sentencing reflects the use of forensic and technological evidence in modern policing.
Background
Upskirting, the act of taking a photograph or recording footage beneath a person’s clothing without their consent, was made a specific criminal offence in England and Wales under the Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019, which came into force in April 2019. The offence carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and places convicted offenders on the sex offenders register. In this case, Allegretto’s admission concerned operating a mobile phone beneath another person’s clothing for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, an offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, which also requires those convicted to register with the police. The legislation was introduced amid growing public concern about such behaviour, which campaigners had long argued should be treated as a serious sexual offence rather than a minor nuisance. The requirement to register under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, as imposed on Allegretto for five years, is designed to allow the police to monitor offenders and reduce the risk of reoffending.
Prediction
This Cardiff upskirting sentence is likely to be watched closely by campaigners, legal professionals and the public across Wales. For victims of such offences, the outcome reinforces the message that reporting the incident can lead to a conviction, even when the offender is initially a stranger. The case may encourage other victims to come forward, knowing that CCTV and forensic evidence can be used to identify offenders. For the wider community, the sentence serves as a deterrent and signals that courts treat upskirting as a serious sexual offence with lasting consequences, including registration as a sex offender. It may also prompt renewed calls for consistent sentencing and for further public education about the seriousness of the offence, particularly in busy public spaces such as shopping centres.
