Police found stash of indecent images at home
APERVERT who followed schoolgirls around a shopping centre and took upskirt pictures of them was found with indecent images of children and bestiality.
Robert Doran was caught on CCTV by security staff taking the vile pictures and was reported to the police.
Officers attended at his home and found him with a stash of category A, B and C images, including the upskirted pictures.
A forensic report showed Doran, of Middleton, had shared some of the images to another user on a messaging system, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
Pleading guilty to operating equipment beneath clothing without consent and possession of indecent images, Doran, 33, was spared a prison sentence.
Prosecuting Imran Khan said that on January 6 this year, security staff at the Arndale centre in Manchester witnessed Doran observing schoolgirls and following them around.
He left and was seen getting into a car which was analysed and confirmed he was the owner.
“On Friday, January 31, officers attended at his address on Nowell Road in order to arrest the defendant,” Mr Khan said.
“Following his caution he said: “I’m not speaking anymore”.
“A search was conducted and several items were seized including an iphone, ipad and laptop, and they were all sent for digital analysis.
“A report confirmed indecent images were found, as well as extreme pornography and video evidence of the upskirting on the iphone.
“There were a number of pictures of upskirting taken without the consent or knowledge of the victims, and videos showing children between the ages of 14 and 16 engaged in sexual activity.”
There was also an extreme pornographic video showing bestiality.
A forensic report found he had sent the pictures to another person online, the court heard.
He was said to have no previous convictions.
Mitigating, Helena Williams said her client was of previous good character prior to the offences.
She said he used the last year and a half to address his issues.
“He expresses that at the time he didn’t comprehend the level of harm and distress caused to the victims,” she said.
“Since that he has sought help from agencies which have encouraged him to put the shoe on the other foot and he now knows he was the one subjecting young women to this sort of offending.
“He is remorseful and has taken steps to deal with and address this offending behaviour.”
Sentencing, Judge Tina Landale said: “The offence of upskirting is particularly subversive and disgusting and has enormous effects on children, women and girls who are going about their everyday business in a public place and don’t expect to be targeted by somebody sneaking pictures of them up their clothing.
“Not only were those girls photographed and looked at, but the effect this has on other girls and other women leaves them frightened to go out in public, about their everyday lives, and hearing about it makes them even more anxious than they otherwise would be.
“There has been a long delay in bringing these offences to the court, you did seek employment and you do have a primary caregiving role for your grandmother who would be impacted upon if you were imprisoned.”
Doran, of Nowell Road, was handed 16 months imprisonment which was suspended for two years, 200 hours unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation activity requirements.
He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign onto the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.