Sainsbury's upskirter targeted schoolgirls at Newport store

Lewis Taylor admitted the offences

A man who admitted upskirting schoolgirls at a supermarket has been convicted of voyeurism.

Lewis Taylor, 33, from Newport, took photographs up the skirts of 20 women and girls on their lunch break at a Sainsbury's supermarket in Caerleon.

At Cardiff Crown Court, Taylor was given a community order and a rehabilitation requirement.

He must carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and do a three-year course.

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The court heard Taylor "mingled" amongst the girls before kneeling down in the store and filming under their skirts.

'Loitering in the sandwich section'

Lisa McCormick, prosecuting, said: "He attended a Sainsbury's Local on five occasions in the school lunch break intent on taking pictures up the skirts of schoolgirls aged between 11-16.

Taylor was spotted by a member of staff at the Sainsbury's store

"He was seen by the manager upskirting and the police were called.

"A staff member stood near him with a view to distract him from his endeavours, but the defendant was not disturbed.

"He was loitering in the sandwich section while schoolgirls were there in uniform."

Staff confronted Taylor and passed his car number plate on to police who arrested him at his home.

Admitted voyeurism

When officers searched his home they found films and pictures taken at the Sainsbury's store in Caerleon, near Newport.

Taylor admitted 20 offences of voyeurism.

Matthew Evans, defending, said if Taylor had been caught by an older woman "he might have got a slap around the head".

Mr Evans added: "This was very uncharacteristic. Clearly he wasn't himself."

A new law

Gina Martin's campaign led to the new law

Upskirting was made a criminal offence last year and anyone convicted can be jailed for up to two years.

The Voyeurism (Offences) Act came into force in April 2019 after a campaign led by Gina Martin, who was shocked to discover upskirting was not against the law.

She went to police after a man put his phone between her legs and took pictures at a festival, but officers were unable to take any action.

A Facebook post detailing her experience went viral and she wrote a feature for the BBC News website explaining how she was fighting back.