A model who was secretly filmed by a senior Metropolitan Police officer using spy cameras has told how she has been left with bald spots after pulling her hair out.
Detective Inspector Neil Corbel, 40, was jailed for three years at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday after previously admitting 19 counts of voyeurism relating to 16 models and three escorts.
Posing as an airline pilot, he would book the women for photoshoots in hotel rooms, flats and Airbnbs before hiding the gadgets in everyday items, including tissue boxes, phone chargers, air fresheners, glasses, keys, and headphones, to video his unsuspecting victims for up to four hours.
Married father-of-two Corbel, a former counter-terrorism officer, was caught after one of the models, who had agreed to pose naked for a photo shoot, became suspicious of a digital clock.
An internet search of the brand name revealed the device was a high-end spyware video-recording device which could be controlled from a smartphone.
When he was arrested, Corbel told police he was addicted to pornography and officers found images of 51 women on his hard drive.
Three of the women, who cannot be identified because they are victims of sexual offences, attended court to face the former counter-terrorism officer as they read their victim impact statements.
One model, who agreed to pose for a ‘fashion and artistic nude shoot’, was visibly angry as she told married father-of-two Corbel his crimes had ‘affected every aspect of my life’.
Showing her scalp to the court, she said: ‘I have pulled so much of my hair out with stress I have bald spots and have had to turn down work.
‘Women, especially models and sex workers tend to struggle to report sex crimes to police.
‘He knew we were potentially easy, quiet prey. So, how can I tell women to trust police when this man has shaken my beliefs.’
Another model said: ‘The fact the defendant is a police officer has scared me and shocked me. He’s supposed to enforce the law, not break it.
‘I expect he knows how to deal with people, and he’s used his knowledge, experience and training to manipulate me.
‘He was so charming and believable in his role. I just ask myself what else was he capable of?’
A third woman, who went on a date with Corbel, said he came across as ‘genuine and charming’.
She added: ‘The way Neil lied and completely made up a different life still sticks in my mind a lot.
‘A man with his intelligence would’ve known he could reach out for help rather than manipulate women for his own kicks.’
Other victims, who were not in court, mentioned the case of Sarah Everard, who was snatched off the street before being raped and murdered by Met PC Wayne Couzens.
One said: ‘The fact that he is policeman is a huge deal. These people are meant to protect us. Following the murder of Sarah Everard this feels like a very frightening time to be a woman.
‘Sex work can be dangerous, though I’m lucky in this is the first form of violence I have experienced at work.
‘If you can’t trust police officers, then what are we supposed to do?’
Another said: ‘Finding out about this was a total shock to the system. I don’t want to point the finger at all police officers, but they are meant to be there to protect you.
‘Especially with the Sarah Everard case, it is difficult to know who to trust. I don’t feel protected right now.
‘I was oblivious to his wrongdoing, and I imagine the other victims were.’
