Serial upskirter jailed after targeting lone teenager on a train – Surrey

A serial upskirter who targeted a 17-year-old girl on a train in Surrey has been jailed for 20 months.  

Leon Chan, 26, and of Burngreave Road, Sheffield, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on 9 March. He was found guilty of recording an image under clothing to observe another without consent, and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The judge sentenced him to 20 months in prison. Chan was also ordered to sign the Sex Offender's Register for ten years.

On 1 October 2020 the victim, a 17-year-old girl in school uniform, was travelling on a train to Ashstead at around 3pm in the afternoon when Chan sat down and began staring at her.

The victim got up and went to stand by the train door. Chan followed her, holding his phone camera and pointing it towards her. CCTV showed the light on his camera appearing to flash.

Chan then stood next to her, in an almost otherwise empty carriage, and placed his bag on the floor. He crouched down with began rummaging through the bag with one hand, and holding his phone camera towards the victims legs with his other hand.

The victim moved away and he followed her, crouching down again and holding his phone towards her. She turned around and caught him pointing his camera up her skirt.

Chan left the train at Ashtead before quickly re boarding and continuing his journey. The incident was captured on CCTV and Chan was identified by local officers in Sheffield and arrested.

Chan had been subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which prevented him from possessing any device capable of capturing or storing photographs or moving images unless he satisfied certain conditions. He was also prohibited from filming any female without her express consent.

He had been issued with the SHPO and a suspended prison sentence in 2019 following another upskirting incident in London.

Detective Constable Amina Khoyratee said: “Upskirting is a truly horrendous invasion of privacy and I would like to make it absolutely clear that we will always take these reports seriously.

“Chan is a repeat offender who has shown no remorse throughout our investigation, so it’s lucky he’ll now have plenty of time on his hands in prison where he can reflect on his predatory behaviour.

“This is relatively new legislation, having only been introduced in 2019, but the bespoke powers make it much easier for us to charge suspects for this invasive and disgusting form of sexual offending.

“I would urge anyone who is a victim of upskirting, or any other sexual offence, to text us discretely on 61016 or call 999 in an emergency. No report is too small or trivial, and we will always take you seriously.”