Barry Gillespie, 53, (pictured outside court today) was caught filming up women’s skirts
A school caretaker used a hidden camera to film up the skirts of women in high street shops while pretending to tie his laces.
Barry Gillespie, 53, had his covert camera seized when he was caught trying to record up a woman’s skirt in a sports store.
The alarm was raised by a member of the public who spotted Gillespie trying to film up a woman’s skirt at the Nike store at the shopping outlet Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in December last year.
A court heard Gillespie would shoot footage intended ‘clearly for sexual gratification’, with 17 victims identified in the police investigation.
Gillespie lost his job of 30 years shortly afterwards but avoided a jail sentence.
Victim Leah Winberg was later told by officers the school caretaker obtained his footage by pretending he was tying his shoelaces.
Prosecutor Graham Heath told Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court police discovered nine victims had been filmed on the day Gillespie was caught.
Miss Winberg is the only victim to be identified by police.
The alarm was raised by a member of the public who spotted Gillespie trying to film up a woman’s skirt at the Nike store at the shopping outlet Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth, Hampshire
Mr Heath added: ‘There are no less than 16 or 17 people who can be identified – individuals who have been recorded whilst out and about and unaware of what he’s up to.
‘On December 29 he was caught. The person who he was targeting was spoken to briefly but chose to leave before the police took a statement, perhaps unsurprisingly in the circumstances.
‘Fortunately as a result of that, the defendant was detained and equipment seized and inspected.’
The 20-year-old, who works at a jewellery shop, said: ‘I was in shock when I first found out.
‘The first thing I wanted to do was get justice for the other unidentified girls. I was disgusted.
‘It’s a sexual violation of privacy and trust that you have with other members of the public.
‘If you’re going to be that disgusting person who violates that trust, there are repercussions for such perverse actions.’
Gillespie, from Sandown on the Isle of Wight, admitted three counts of outraging public decency
The 53-year-old, pictured outside court, was handed a three-year community order with a sex offender treatment programme and 20 days of rehabilitation activities
Angela Parkins, mitigating, said Gillespie had no previous convictions and had lost his job, home and relationship as a result of his actions.
Gillespie, from Sandown on the Isle of Wight, admitted three counts of outraging public decency and was handed a three-year community order with a sex offender treatment programme and 20 days of rehabilitation activities.
He must pay £85 prosecution costs and an £85 victim surcharge, as well as forfeiting the camera.