Dr Richard Anthony George, 49, pictured, was a regular on four different London Underground lines and police found the disturbing images when his phone was forensically examined.
A PhD-qualified researcher prowled London’s Underground taking pictures up female commuters’ skirts with his mobile until he was confronted by two outraged women bringing his three-week spree to an end.
Dr Richard Anthony George, 49, was a regular on four different London Underground lines and police found the disturbing images when his phone was forensically examined.
The majority of pictures taken showed women seated opposite him on the Tube, but sometimes he would stand over them and take snaps of their breasts.
But his lawyer revealed that he now ‘takes a book whenever he travels’ in a bid to curb temptation.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of outraging public decency, namely taking a picture up a woman’s skirt at Leytonstone Underground Station on August 25 last year and taking multiple similar pictures between August 4 and August 24.
George, of Buckhurst Hill, Essex, will return to Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on September 20 for sentencing.
Prosecutor Miss Olivia Bull told the court: ‘These offences took place in August last year. On August 25 a woman was travelling on a westbound Central Line Underground train.
‘Mr. George was taking taking photos up her skirt using his mobile phone.’
A second woman saw him and they both challenged George at Leytonstone, where he got off the train.
When police traced his movements via CCTV they identified George via his Oyster card when he tapped in and out because it was registered to his address.
When questioned by British Transport Police, George claimed not to have taken any photos and said he ‘got off the train because he felt he should not be there with two women and was embarrassed.’
But when police examined the phone his lies were exposed as the ‘upskirting’ images were revealed.
George, of Buckhurst Hill, Essex, will return to Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on September 20 for sentencing
George continued to try to deceive police, claiming the images were taken of women he dated who had given their permission.
Prosecutor Miss Bull said: ‘He said he took the photos with their consent and was seeing several girlfriends at the time and took them as a prank, a fetish.’
But when officers questioned one of George’s supposed girlfriends she discredited his fabricated account.
She had met him on August 26, but the upskirt image was dated August 12.
Miss Bull said police identified pictures taken on the Central, Metropolitan, District and Circle Lines.
She continued: ‘The photos are taken when females are sitting opposite and their legs are open and there are pictures from above, down low-cut tops.
‘He did specifically target women. He’s aimed for up their skirts between their legs.’
George must surrender any digital device capable of taking pictures to police on request and must have a valid fare on all trains as conditions of bail.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of outraging public decency, namely taking a picture up a woman’s skirt at Leytonstone Underground Station, pictured, on August 25 last year and taking multiple similar pictures between August 4 and August 24
She told the court: ‘My job as a prosecutor is to protect members of the public from serious sexual harm.
‘The police have made these applications because they have concerns.’
George’s lawyer Miss Emma Stuart-Smith told the court: ‘The last photo was on October 5 and most were deleted soon afterwards. He stopped that behaviour on his own accord.
‘He is a professional man. He took his own course and realised what he was doing was wrong and now he takes a book whenever he travels.
‘He is receiving therapy. He is extremely humiliated and remorseful for the position he finds himself in and his behaviour.
‘He is extremely sorry and humiliated to be here. The court should not be concerned that he is going to commit any more offences.’
George will return for pre-sentence and psychiatric reports.