Cross-dressing burglar is jailed

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A serial cross-dressing burglar who broke into a house in Lancashire and filmed himself wearing a schoolgirl's underwear has been jailed indefinitely.

Gary Marie, 42, of Colne Road, Burnley, broke into houses and wore underwear belonging to his female victims.

Marie was convicted of 24 offences in his trial at Preston Crown Court.

Marie was sentenced to an imprisonment for public protection (IPP). He was jailed for a minimum of six years until being considered for parole.

The court heard how one of his victims had tried to commit suicide.

Marie had stolen underwear from the woman's house and filmed himself wearing it, the jury was told.

You have behaved in a way that shocks and shames Judge Stuart Baker

He also took photographs of the woman through a window of her home.

The woman, who said she felt "violated" and "dirty", later tried to kill herself with an overdose of tablets and alcohol.

Following his arrest, police published images of bedrooms Marie had filmed in a local newspaper, which led to a number of victims coming forward.

Marie was convicted of 24 offences at his trial including burglary, aggravated burglary, six counts of voyeurism and 10 counts of possessing indecent photographs of children.

Balaclava knickers

It emerged Marie had broken into a house on the night of his arrest, on 19 March 2008, and filmed himself in the bedroom of a 15-year-old girl, wearing her underwear.

Marie sprayed a CS gas canister in the faces of six officers who tried to arrest him.

He carried out his raids wearing a pair of knickers used as a balaclava and he also carried a device for turning keys.

Richard Haworth, prosecuting, said a mobile phone and digital camera were also found.

Mr Haworth added: "These items supported the evidence that the defendant was entering the homes of complete strangers and committing acts of a sexual nature."

Judge Stuart Baker said: "You have behaved in a way that shocks and shames, which you say yourself, but it has seriously frightened, grossly undermined the confidence and deeply upset the victims of these crimes."

Nicholas Clarke, defending, said Marie, who had 63 previous convictions, appreciated the distress he had caused.