Sex offender filmed up skirts

Videos found dating back to 2012

A 54-year-old ‘career sex offender’ covertly filmed up the skirts of dozens of women on London public transport .

Keith Richardson, of York Street, in Gateshead, near Newcastle, was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court on Wednesday November 2 after he was caught filming up a woman’s skirt on a train from Sheffield to St Pancras.

A member of the public spotted Richardson with a camera and police were called to the scene where he was arrested.

Richardson’s phone was seized and his house was searched, which resulted in the seizure of his computer and hard drive.

Officers found more than 280 videos of women being filmed, and 32 videos were found where Richardson covertly filmed up women’s skirts on public transport, dating back to 2012.

Investigating officer PC Robert Brent with the British Transport Police said: “Richardson was a career sexual offender and over the course of four years he covertly recorded multiple women.

“All of his material has now been seized.

“No one should be subject to unwelcome sexual behaviour on the rail network and we will do everything in our power to find those responsible and, as in Richardson’s case, bring them before the courts.

“Our Report it Stop it campaign, which aims to combat unwanted sexual behaviour on the railway by encouraging members of the public to report it, is proving very successful in supporting victims and bringing perpetrators of these crimes to justice.”

Richardson was sentenced to nine months in prison, which was suspended for 24 months.

He was given an 18 month community order, a curfew between 9pm and 7am which will be electronically monitored for two months and a rehabilitation activity requirement for 30 days.

A sexual harm prevention order was also put in place.