Ananova:

A man who allegedly photographed more than 3,000 women's bottoms in Venice has been arrested.

The man was stopped after police became suspicious of a large bag he was carrying as he followed women through St Mark's Square.

He has been charged with infringement of privacy which could earn the 38-year-old Italian from six months to four years in jail.

A police video shows a man in jeans and hooded top walking behind women. Police said he was filming through a small hole in the side of the bag.

The officers became suspicious when they realised he was only following women with short skirts. When they stopped or bent down to pick something up, he was clearly trying to angle the bag behind them.

When the voyeur was finally caught police recovered several DVDs which held more than 3,000 images of women's bottoms.

He confessed to police he had been filming in and around St Mark's Square for nearly two years.

Mario Marina of Venice police said the man was married with two young children and has a professional job in the nearby town of Padua.