Wirral pervert banned from using camera phones and iPads (From Wirral Globe)

Wirral pervert banned from using camera phones and iPads

4:29pm Friday 31st August 2012 in News By Lynda Roughley

Liverpool Crown Court

A PERVERT caught filming up women's skirts in a Liverpool store has been condemned to a life using only old-fashioned mobile phones.

To prevent Martin Picton re-offending a judge banned him from using camera phones or other visual recording devices such as Ipads.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that when Picton, from Oxton, was arrested it was found that he had secretly filmed in the same way dozens of times before. Judge Denis Watson, QC, told 37-year-old Picton that the offences justified a custodial sentence but as he has already spent three months on remand in custody it would mean he would not serve much longer behind bars if jailed.

He ruled that a three year supervision order with participation in the stringent Northumbria Sex Offenders programme would better serve him and public.

The judge also imposed an indefinite ASBO prohibiting him from having a camera phone or any type of visual recording device. His barrister, Paul Becker, had pointed out the replacement difficulties Picton would have if his mobile phone, which does not have a camera, broke down but the judge pointed out, "My real concern is to protect ladies from your behaviour in future," he said.

The court heard that Picton was caught out on June 1 while filming up a woman's skirt in the Debenhams store using his camera phone hidden in a holdall. Inquires revealed that a woman shopper in TK Maxx had complained about suspecting she was being filmed two days earlier.

When his phone was seized 26 video clips involving other victims were found and more were discovered on his computer. Picton, of Slatey Road, Oxton, pleaded guilty to three charge of outraging public decency and had 79 similar offences taken into consideration.

The court heard that he has a previous conviction for voyeurism five years ago and while the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order had not re-offended.