Man jailed for upskirting – Leeds

A 24-year-old man has been jailed for three months after he was caught upskirting by British Transport Police officers at Leeds station.

 

Connor Hodgson, of Springwell View, Holbeck, Leeds, pleaded guilty to voyeurism and was sentenced at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Monday 18 March.

 

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for five years and pay a victim surcharge of £154.

 

The court heard how on Saturday, 16 March, station staff pointed out Hodgson to BTP officers following a report from a member of the public that he had been taking photos of women with his mobile phone.

 

Officers then witnessed Hodgson spot a woman and follow her before placing his phone on the ground with the camera facing upwards under her skirt.

 

As they approached him he ran off, dumping his phone in the car park. Officers chased after him and arrested him on suspicion of voyeurism to which he responded that he had been waiting to be caught.

 

Investigating officer PC Owen Docherty said: “By his own admission Hodgson had been taking pictures of women on the railway unbeknown to them for some time. Not only is this a disgusting invasion of privacy but a total violation of the women involved.

 

"We will stop at nothing to deter, pursue, arrest and bring sex offenders on the railway network to justice.

 

“Every report is important. See it or experience it, you can report anything that makes you uncomfortable.

 

"We urge everyone to save 61016 to their phones and download the Railway Guardian app before you travel so you can discreetly get in touch with us if you need us.”