The dad says he’s a ‘changed man’ after filming up unsuspecting women’s skirts and surreptitiously recording another victim undressing
17:25, 28 Aug 2025Updated 20:40, 28 Aug 2025
Szymon Kornet, of Ruskin Street, aged 51(Image: Merseyside Police)
A mum exposed her ex-husband’s disturbing secret after she caught him breaking into her house and stealing fish from her fridge. Szymon Kornet was identified as being the culprit when his former partner set up a CCTV camera in order to rumble a mystery intruder who had been entering her home and helping himself to her belongings.
The mother then discovered that he had saved a series of disturbing sexual images to their daughter’s iPad, having secretly recorded pictures and videos up unsuspecting women’s skirts and of another victim undressing. The dad, who now describes himself as a “changed man”, fought back tears as he was sent to prison today.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday that Kornet and his ex-partner had been in a relationship for around 10 years before they separated in 2017, with the couple having a child together. On February 10 last year, she noticed that a number of items had gone missing from her home in Kirkdale.
David Watson, prosecuting, outlined how these included perfume, a bottle of whisky and fish from the fridge. Having suspected that an unknown person had broken into her house, she purchased a CCTV camera and set it up in the hallway of the property.
This led to Kornet, of Ruskin Street in Walton, being filmed entering the address shortly after midnight on March 27. While the 51-year-old was wearing a face covering and hat at the time, his ex-partner “recognised the movements and clothing of the male and knew it to be the defendant”.
While he was not said to have taken any items on this occasion, having seemingly gained access using a key which his partner had given to their daughter, he initially denied being responsible after she confronted him at his home. However, Kornet subsequently transferred £200 into her bank account when she demanded the return of her possessions during a series of text messages.
Two weeks later, his ex-partner realised that one of her dresses was also missing. He thereafter apologised and returned the item, but maintained that he had not taken other clothing which had disappeared.
Then, on July 25, their daughter returned home to his ex-partner’s address in possession of an iPad which she ordinarily kept at her dad’s house. It was at this stage that his ex-partner discovered a series of images on the device which showed another woman being filmed without her knowledge while undressing.
Police subsequently seized further electronic goods from Kornet following his arrest, on which officers found six “upskirting” videos of several different women. Mr Watson added of these recordings, which had apparently been captured during 2022: “It is plain that the women involved had no idea that they were being filmed in this way.”
Kornet has no previous convictions. Brian Kennedy, defending, told the court: “It is clear that he has offered his sincere apology. There are also signs of a determination to address his offending behaviour.
“He refers to himself as a changed man and has referred to having a sexual disorder. There is an indication of a degree of insight there. He has a strong work record. It is submitted that there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. He has expressed a willingness to desist from offending.
“Immediate custody, it is suggested, would result in a significant harmful impact upon others, namely his daughter. He sees her twice a week. He accepts that it was negligent for her to have the iPad with that material on it, but he is very much part of her life and vice versa.”
Kornet, who was assisted by an interpreter during the hearing, admitted burglary, voyeurism and recording images beneath the clothing of another without consent. Appearing in the dock wearing a black cardigan over a white shirt and black tie, he sat with his head bowed and appeared to be on the verge of tears as he was jailed for 15 months and told to sign the sex offenders’ register for seven years.
Sentencing, Recorder Richard Pratt KC said of the victim in the voyeurism offence: “She was shocked and disgusted when it was brought to her attention that you had behaved in that way. By transferring images onto the iPad which your daughter had possession of, it plainly gave rise to a risk that she would see things that no [child] should.”
The judge went on to label Kornet’s filming up women’s skirts as a “disgraceful act”, adding: “Of course, these women had no idea that you were doing this. It is an offence that causes very great distress, involving a serious invasion of privacy.”
Turning to the burglary, Recorder Pratt said: “There was some degree of planning. I take into account the fact that you have, at least, returned items and made a payment into her account.
“The offending took place over a number of years. I do take into account your work record and have had particular regard to your relationship with your daughter.
“It is said that there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. There is strong personal mitigation, particularly your good character. I fully recognise that immediate custody is likely to result in a harmful impact on others, in particular your daughter.
“Your conduct in behaving in this way does present, in my view, a risk or danger to the public that you would continue to act in this way, particularly in respect of the upskirting offence. Ultimately, I consider the gravity of your offending and its cumulative effect can only be met by immediate custody.”