LEE DAVIES FROM NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS CAUGHT FILMING UP SCHOOLGIRLS' SKIRTS IN WARRINGTON

In May 2016, a disturbing incident unfolded at the Golden Square shopping centre in Warrington, where Lee Davies, aged 42 and a resident of Newton-le-Willows, was caught engaging in highly inappropriate and illegal behavior. Witnesses reported that Davies was acting suspiciously in the shopping centre, prompting concern among security personnel and shoppers alike.

Anthony O’Donohoe, the prosecutor in the case, detailed the troubling observations made by security staff. He explained that Davies was seen carrying a reusable shopping bag from a local supermarket, and within this bag, his mobile phone was positioned in a manner that suggested it was being used to record or photograph women’s skirts without their knowledge or consent. The security guard observed Davies fiddling with his phone and invading the personal space of several women, which raised immediate alarms.

Following these suspicions, security personnel contacted the police, who promptly detained Davies. During questioning, he did not deny his actions, reportedly stating, “Ok, I have been doing it.” When police examined his mobile device, they discovered a video clip clearly showing a female’s skirt being filmed from below. Further investigation revealed additional images, some depicting school uniforms worn by young girls, which heightened concerns about the nature of his activities.

Authorities conducted a search of Davies’ residence on Brunswick Road in Newton-le-Willows. During the search, officers seized two laptops and a memory card, which contained a significant number of illicit images. These included numerous photographs and videos of women and girls, often dressed in short skirts or tight clothing, being filmed without their consent. The material also included 188 images classified as child abuse, spanning various levels of severity. Moreover, there were nearly 1,000 extreme pornographic images involving sexual acts with animals and adults, alongside five prohibited cartoon images depicting child abuse, as reported by prosecutor O’Donohoe.

Lee Davies faced multiple charges, including outraging public decency, making indecent images, possessing a total of 188 indecent images, 941 extreme pornographic images, and five prohibited images. He pleaded guilty to all charges.

In sentencing, Mr. Justice Dove sentenced Davies to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years. The judge condemned his actions, describing his behavior as “wholly and totally depraved,” and emphasized that the victims—women and girls—were clearly harmed, even if they were unaware of his filming. The judge stated, “They clearly were victims and it was a serious violation of their privacy.”

He further remarked that the collection of images and videos on Davies’ devices demonstrated a deeply depraved sexual interest and perverted tendencies. Despite this, the judge acknowledged that Davies appeared to have some insight into the reprehensible nature of his conduct and expressed hope that he would seek rehabilitation. As part of his sentence, Davies was ordered to attend a sexual offences rehabilitation course, undertake 10 days of probation service activities, and sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years. Additionally, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed, restricting his internet use for five years to prevent further offending.