A judge told a perverted photographer he had stolen ‘children’s innocence’ after taking pictures of their underwear as they watched the Worthing's Birdman contest.

James Chapman was busily taking shots up their skirts and down their tops as crowds gathered on the beach to watch competitors plunge from the town's pier.

Angry parents rounded on him and called police when they realised what the 42-year-old was doing.

Officers found 78 pictures on his camera card that he had taken of girls as he prowled the beach during the contest.

Chapman admitted taking the shots for his own gratification and confessed there were more on his computer, including pornographic movies of children.

However, none were found when police went to his home, after his arrest on August 23, last year.

Chapman admitted outraging public decency and appeared at Worthing Magistrates’ Court for sentence yesterday. (tue) He was banned from taking pictures of any child under the age of 18 without their parents' permission.

Chapman is also barred from having a camera in a public place, including a camera on a mobile phone.

The ban will last for the next five years after he was made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

There was no evidence that Chapman had shown or distributed any of his pictures to other perverts, the court was told.

Peter Lytle, prosecuting, said: “He was seen taking photographs of children on the beach.

“Police were called and asked to see his camera but he refused to hand it over and was arrested.

“It contained shots taken down the tops and up the skirts of young children on the beach.

“He admitted that some of them were taken for sexual gratification.

“He said he had been taking them at beaches and events for about ten years.”

Peter Long, defending, said Chapman had gone to watch the Birdman competition while visiting friends.

Mr Long added: “He started taking the pictures after he got bored with what was happening.”

Chapman, of Hazel Drive, Ipswich, was also ordered to do 240 hours unpaid community work and pay £85 costs.

District Judge Roger Ede said: “I regard you as a thief because you steal things from children.

“First of all you steal their innocence and secondly you steal their freedom to behave like children.

“When parents know that someone like you is going round taking pictures in this way they stop their children from being able to behave in a free, easy, innocent and child-like way.

“Children should be able to run around and behave like children without having to worry about adults who regard them as sexual objects. That is the damage that you do.”