Folkestone sex offender Martin Bell jailed for upskirt photos

FOLKESTONE SEX OFFENDER MARTIN BELL JAILED FOR UPSKIRT PHOTOS

A sex offender documented as Martin Bell of Ormonde Road, Folkestone, has been sentenced at Highbury Corner Magistrate’s Court following a reported incident on a train from Ashford in January.

Bell, aged 47, was caught by bystanders positioning his phone beneath a female passenger's skirt and taking indecent photographs.

When approached, Bell admitted to the act but claimed it was "just for a laugh." Concerned that he might delete the photographs, one of the witnesses seized his phone and explained the situation to the victim.

All parties exited the train at St Pancras and contacted the British Transport Police.

During police questioning, Bell continued to admit he was taking pictures and indicated that there were more victims on his phone, revealing his interest in capturing "unposed" images of women on trains and escalators.

An analysis of his phone revealed 65 photographs, with 20 related to upskirting, all taken over a six-month period ending in November 2017.

Bell pleaded guilty to outraging public decency, resulting in a 12-month community order and a five-year sexual harm prevention order handed down on August 20.

The investigating officer emphasized the seriousness of such conduct, stating, "The taking of intimate photographs up the skirt of a stranger without their knowledge or consent is not only reprehensible, it is indecent and unlawful.

We will always seek to prosecute offenders using the legislation available to us."