Air traffic controller Rudiger Krause, from Germany, is accused of outraging public decency by filming up a woman’s skirt at Manchester Airport
A German air traffic controller who admitted to having an ‘addiction’ for taking pictures and videos up the skirts of women was arrested in Manchester airport.
Rudiger Krause was allegedly caught filming up a woman’s skirt using his mobile phone while shopping at the Spar shop in Terminal Three on Wednesday.
The 50-year-old, who lives in the suburb of Barrien near the North German town of Syke, was apprehended by officers, who found similar images of unsuspecting victims on his mobile.
The £89,000-a-year control tower official broke down in tears and admitted he had taken similar photos back home in Germany without being caught.
He was charged with outraging public decency but has denied the charge after his lawyers claimed the offence cannot have been committed unless two or more people witnessed what his client was doing.
Krause, who arrived on a flight from Hanover, was due to embark on a week-long tour of English football stadiums with his son.
After being kept in cells overnight, he was released on bail and had his passport returned after it was seized during his arrest. Krause elected a trail by magistrates and will return to court in December.
Krause’s defence lawyer Patrick Harris said there were ‘concerns about his mental welfare’ and there were that he was ‘very upset’.
Defence lawyer Patrick Harris said: ‘This allegation is an unusual one but in order for this to be a case where this was in a public place, more than two people have to have seen it, and it must be in a place where lots of members of the public are present.
‘The person who made this allegation was on her own at the time and her husband was apparently stood outside. This was in the Spar supermarket and he decided to take a picture of this woman from under her skirt using his phone.
‘This wasn’t observed by anybody else, her husband wasn’t there and nobody has watched the CCTV.’
He added: ‘The lady in the supermarket observed what he was doing and complained to the police straight away. He was arrested and during the police interview he gave frank admissions. They searched his phone and found other images of other ladies, who obviously won’t be witnesses in this case.’
‘There is no denying the unpleasant nature of this offence but evidence of him committing further offences needs to be provided. From what I know he has no previous convictions.’
Krause’s lawyer added that he was free to travel back to Germany and that he was planning to take leave from work to focus on getting over his ‘addiction’.
Harris said: ‘We need to provide him with psychological communication and counselling, which he is currently not receiving in Germany. He earns over Euro 100,000 per year and this is a tragedy for him.
Krause, who arrived on a flight from Hanover, was due to embark on a week-long tour of English football stadiums with his son
‘He was on holiday and was intending to stay with his son at the Premier Inn. They have a room booked and he could still go back to that room. He could return to Germany, and we can’t stop him from doing that.
‘He does need to seek professional help, preferably somebody with experience in this sexualised behaviour. He does have the funds to stay in the country before these proceedings take place. He was planning to leave his work to focus on his mental health. He is a man of good character, a respectable man, with a good family, and a professional career.’
Prosecutor Steve Woodman said: ‘During the police interview he explained that he has got an addiction regarding his behaviour. Krause told officers he flew into Manchester Airport from Germany as he was going to meet up with his 18-year-old son and they were planning in visiting all the UK’s football stadiums, and he was planning on returning to Germany on 11th October.
‘He explained that he arrived earlier than he had been intending to and he proceeded to do this to pass the time until he met his son. He also said that he had committed offences similar to this in Germany, but he had never been caught.
‘The police are going to check that out before the trial. If he is released, there is a chance that he will go back to Germany and may not return for the trial, in which he could be charged with failing to surrender.’
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