‘UPSKIRTING’ PERVERT JAILED

Nigel Matt jailed for 20 months after admitting outraging public decency

A pervert who would use his lunch break to film up women shoppers’ skirts in Queensgate will spend Christmas behind bars.

Accountant Nigel Matt, from Peterborough, used an ‘improvised recording device’ as he followed women he thought were attractive on escalators.

But he was spotted by security guards - and on Friday he sobbed in court as he was jailed for 20 months.

Judge Matthew Lowe, sentencing said: “These offences were committed for an entirely selfish desire for sexual gratification.

“The desire overrode any regard of the impact on the victims of what you did.”

Matt (56) pleaded guilty to outraging public decency, as well as eight counts of voyeurism, one count of taking an indecent photo of a child, one count of possessing an indecent photo of a child.

Only the count of outraging public decency relates to Queensgate. The other offences are said to have occurred in Peterborough and Bourne.

Thomas Brown, prosecuting, said: “Matt’s behaviour attracted the attention of security guards. He was seen to be travelling up and down escalators in close proximity to women - some were wearing skirts, some were not.

“He had in his hand what is described as a ‘device’ - it looked like an old fashioned gas lighter probe used to light ovens and the like, with an extendable probe -but it was a camera. While he was under observation, security saw him approach two women, an older and a younger woman, and made himself into close proximity.

“Security could see him taking photographs with the device of the back of the upper thigh and the crutch area.

“The security guard asked for instructions on what to do - he was told to stop the man, and police were called.”

Mr Brown said that in an initial police interview Matt made no comment - but police had the device examined, and the footage recovered revealed Matt had been using the camera for more than a year, with 34 different women targeted.

When confronted with the evidence, he made full admissions to officers.

Laura Stephenson, defending, said: “He was an accountant for 36 years, He will lose his job and his house. He accepts it is down to his own actions.

“He cares for his seriously ill mother, but he is now estranged from the rest of his own family.”

Matt was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years, and a sexual harm prevention order was also imposed for 10 years, limiting his access to the internet, devices capable of taking and storing images and contact with children.

Jailed: Nigel Matt