Ramsgate pervert sentenced for ‘upskirting’ offences

Image Kent Police

A Ramsgate sex offender who took secret ‘upskirt’ photographs of two children is the first to be successfully prosecuted by Kent Police under new legislation.

George Locke, 22, of St David’s Road, committed the offences against the girls, who were both of secondary school age and unknown to him, in Canterbury city centre in April and May 2019.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of operating equipment beneath the clothing of another without their consent when he appeared before Folkestone magistrates on Wednesday (June 3), and received a three-month suspended prison sentence.

Locke will also have to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for the next seven years and must complete an 80-hour rehabilitation programme, 160 hours of unpaid work and 20 days of rehabilitation activity, in addition to paying £100 compensation to both of his victims.

Incidents relating to ‘upskirting’ were previously prosecuted under the offence of outraging public decency, but legislation introduced by the Government last year made it a specific sexual offence with a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

The offender in the Kent Police case was initially arrested on Saturday, April 20 when a security guard at a store in Whitefriars, Canterbury, noticed him following young girls with his mobile phone out.

Locke was later released from custody pending further enquiries but arrested again on Thursday, May 23 when he was identified as having taken a photo from beneath a girl’s skirt several days earlier, again in the Whitefriars area. It had also been established by this point that he had taken a photo of a girl without her permission on the date of his first arrest.

Detective Constable Harriet Slegg of the Canterbury Vulnerability Investigation Team said: “Upskirting is a terrible offence that can cause a victim to be humiliated, distressed and alarmed, and there is absolutely no place for it in society.

“The offender in this case targeted two children who should have been free to go shopping with their friends and family without worrying about someone like him taking secret photographs for his own sexual gratification.

“He will now be closely monitored as a registered sex offender and risks going straight to prison should he commit any further offences in the future.”

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “By taking these images for his own sickening gratification the offender in this case has helped fuel a toxic culture of harassment.

“No child should ever have to experience this horrific and intrusive practice and we hope these two girls are now receiving the help and support they need to move on with their lives.”

Children needing help and advice can contact Childline 24/7 on 0800 1111. Adults concerned about the wellbeing of a child can phone the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 8005000.

10 Comments

  1. Think he should be named to save others long and short he’s a nonce and clearly a threat to young females

  2. It just seems to get worse how low are the perverts school girls it’s disgusting for them. Well done the security guard for being so observing and really doing a good job. It’s good to see he has to work with no pay and give the girls (victims) a bit of compensation each. I think this is right sentence as he has to be good with suspended sentence hanging over his head he would have not got a 2 years sentence and the victims do get something good for the attack on their dignity.

  3. What about these 20/30 year olds ladies that walk round wearing very little ? No i am not a pervert nor do i take pics but i guess i need a blindfold when i see these .

      • Although I am not quite sure what this has to do with, taking perverted photos up young girls skirts, this is paedophilia, not quite the same as a woman scantily dressed.

        • Agree Phil, It was just with all these new laws, i didn’t want to break any. As regards to the offence i don’t think the sentence was long enough these perverts don’t usually stop . it wont be until he rapes someone that he will get a proper sentence and the right one would be to cut his balls off

          • Hi Paul.

            I think the majority of people would probably disagree with me, but personally I don’t believe prison is the right place for paedophiles (I am talking about those that assault very young children, under 5 yrs).

            It is not a “normal” behaviour, I cannot understand how someone can be physically attracted to a small child, Male or female, when their bodies are not developed, for example like a full grown man/lady, with all the right bumps and shapes in the right places.

            It is an abnormal behaviour, I believe they should be in a psychiatric secure place, to help this problem.

            Putting them in prison, they serve their time, but not necessarily cured.

            Sorry about the essay.

  4. I agree Phil with you , These perverts wont stop there , they need psychiatric help and it wont be until they do worse , i cannot understand how one can get sexual satisfaction from a child , Saville was many of others harris another , i don’t understand this stuff . I carn’t comment on the 25/30 year olds as i was a window cleaner for 30 year and got offered a cup of tea or shall we have a shower, of course i went for the cup of tea lol. All was with consent

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