A pervert who built camera lenses into his shoes to film up the skirts of unsuspecting shoppers said “it had taken over his life”

Geoffrey Jones targeted women and girls as young as 10 in Crawley high-street stores including Primark, New Look, BHS and Poundland.

Jones, 52, of appearing at Crawley Magistrates’ Court admitted five counts of of outraging public decency by using covert camera equipment.

Prosecutor Sally Edwards said Jones had admitted to the Probation Service that he transferred the images to his computer equipment and became “sexually aroused while filming. “ He said he had been committing similar offences for nearly three years and claimed “it has taken over my life.”

Anthony Egan, mitigating, said Jones, of Park Way, Pound Hill, Crawley, was relieved when he was caught by suspicious store workers and kept all of the images for himself.

He added: “He admits he has a severe problem and is anxious to receive help to overcome it. “ “If he went to prison for a comparatively short time he would come out not having had the help he needs.”

District Judge Roger Ede sentenced Jones to a two-year community supervision order with a requirement to attend a special sex offences programme.

He was ordered to sign the sexual offenders list and banned, under the Sexual Offences Prevention Act, from having or using cameras or recording equipment in public places. He was also told to pay £60 costs.

Judge Ede added: “You went hunting for girls and young women in short skirts to take intimate pictures for your own sexual pleasure. It was a serious intrusion into peoples’ privacy.

“It was a sophisticated, planned operation.

“I strongly considered imposing a custodial sentence of about nine months. But my main concern is protecting the public from you in the future.”

The videos will be destroyed.