However, Andrea Cesqui, 37, had his British Airways security lanyard around his neck when he was caught by the male VIP lounge receptionist.
The Malaga resident pleaded guilty to voyeurism, namely observing another person doing a private act for the purpose of sexual gratification, on October 21, last year.
He was fined £650, with £85 costs and ordered to pay an £85 victim surcharge by magistrate Anthony Dorothy, who said: “We believe there was an element of planning here, the placement of the phone etc.”
Cesqui was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for five years.
He had been a member of BA cabin crew since 2006 and has lost his £2,800 per month job with the airline.
Cesqui, staying in Priory Grove School, Priory Grove, Lambeth was seen on the airport’s CCTV entering numerous toilets with his phone in his hand, remaining inside for excessive periods of time.
Prosecutor Beata Murphy told Uxbridge Magistrates Court it was 6.45pm when the victim used the land side gents’ toilets to urinate.
“As he began to urinate he noticed somebody had placed a mobile phone over the top of the cubicle and could see the top of the phone and the camera lens.
“The complainant was in the middle of urinating with his genitals exposed.
“He looked directly into the lens and the phone was immediately pulled down by the male using it.
“The complainant left the cubicle and confronted the male, who was extremely nervous and agitated.
“The complainant demanded to see the phone and the phone was pulled out by the male and it was still unlocked with the camera running.
“The complainant demanded to see the photos on it and the defendant did show the photos, but only from the back of the folder and not the most recent.
“These were photos of numerous male genitalia.”
Cesqui, who was wearing a white hooded NASA top over his BA uniform, fled when the victim left to get security.
He has always insisted no actual recording was taken.
“The suspect had a large suitcase and backpack as if he was a passenger, however the complainant believed he saw a lanyard under the hoodie, similar to those of Heathrow Airport employees,” added Ms Murphy.
“The CCTV was analysed and it showed him wearing a BA uniform and his image was circulated to BA employees to see if they recognised the suspect.”
Cesqui had donned the hoodie during one of his multiple lengthy visits to gents’ toilets - one forty minutes long - before the offence.
He was identified by BA a month later on November 19. “BA recognised the suspect from the still and he was sitting in their staff canteen.”
Cesqui’s mobile phone was examined, but no further voyeuristic images were seized, but there were numerous images of naked male models.
His lawyer James Reilly told the court: “He lives in Malaga and he’s come over here for this.
“The defendant said he had some digestive problems and that was the reason for visiting the toilets.”
Cesqui started a new €1100 per month job as an account manager at a call centre last May.
“The defendant has simply, on the spur of the moment, used his phone to point it over the cubicle and look at someone else,” added Mr. Reilly.
“It was a one-off. As a result of this foolish act he has lost his job with British Airways.
Cesqui did not quarantine for two weeks after arrived in the UK recently. “He’s being staying on a friend’s floor the last two days.”
As a result then probation service refused to conduct a face-to-face interview with him and completed it via phone while Cesqui remained outside the court building.