[Pantyholic]

A BURGLAR dressed up in women’s underwear and filmed himself performing sex acts during raids on a series of Burnley homes reports the Lancashire Telegraph

Gary Marie’s sordid practice was only discovered when police arrested him and found him wearing a balaclava made from a pair of knickers as well as a woman’s thong and a sports bra, it was claimed.

The court heard that Marie, of Lubbock Street, Burnley, is also alleged to have recorded a young girl undressing in her home.

He also filmed himself inside a stranger's property, dressed in ladies underwear and smiling and waving at a camera, it is claimed.

The trial at Preston Crown Court heard that when Marie was arrested he used CS gas to render three policemen helpless.

Marie, 42, denies over twenty charges including voyeurism, possessing and taking indecent photographs and burglary.

The jury has been told that he has admitted several charges of actual bodily harm assault on police officers, plus one offence of making use of a firearm with intent and possessing a prohibited weapon - a CS canister.

An investigation began following his arrest in the early hours of March 19 last year.

Richard Haworth, prosecuting, told the court that plain clothes police on patrol in Padiham saw Marie, who was dressed mostly in dark clothing and riding a cycle <----- .

He was approached in the Bright Street area. As well as his dark clothing, he was wearing a balaclava which turned out to be a pair of knickers. After challenging a police officer who approached him he used the CS canister, rendering three officers helpless.

He ran off, but was chased and again he discharged the canister. In the end he was overpowered and arrested.

Tools were found hidden in the tube of the bicycle's handle bars. In custody it was noticed he was wearing the thong and a sports bra.

Mr Haworth said the seizure of items led to police getting an investigation underway.

He said: "That investigation brought to light a more sinister and serious pattern of offending, sexual in origin or motive."

A mobile phone and digital camera were examined, supporting evidence that he had been entering homes, stealing items and committing acts of a sexual nature while the occupants were not there.

Police discovered footage of Marie committing a sex act on himself while apparently in the home of a complete stranger and dressed in women's underwear.

A press appeal where images of the rooms were published in a newspaper resulted in a number of victims coming forward.

One image was shown to be the bedroom of a 15-year-old girl.

Officers recovered video footage of the defendant in one property. He had filmed himself dressed in women's underwear. He was seen smiling and waving at the camera.

The court heard claims that Marie had carried out voyeurism offences on a girl under sixteen. As well as observing her, Marie is alleged to have recorded images on about four occasions.

Mr Haworth said: "These were taken from outside, looking through a window to her bedroom. She was in various states of dress or undress, primarily in underwear.

"She had reported to the police some time earlier that there had been a prowler or someone outside. She had never seen him before in her life and had never met him, but he was watching her and filming her.”

Proceeding.