‘Disgusting’ pensioner, 67, tied phone to his shoe to take pictures under women’s skirts in Aldi
A PENSIONER tied a phone to his shoe to take pictures underneath women’s skirts in Aldi.
Pervert Anthony Wickham claimed to be “sexually frustrated” after he was caught by a woman in a Kent store in 2023.
The retired carpenter would pursue his victims with a mobile phone strapped to his shoe and position himself close to them.
Maidstone Crown Court heard how his behaviour was exposed after being confronted by one woman in an Aldi branch that left her feeling “completely violated, exposed and humiliated”.
Following the incident, the pensioner was identified in a police appeal and arrested with officers discovering three sexually explicit photographs of children aged between seven and 14 in his possession.
Wickham was later arrested for his upskirting conduct and officers also found he had three sexually explicit photographs of children aged between seven and 14 and footage of an unknown woman using a toilet
The 67-year-old admitted to recording an image beneath clothing to observe another without consent, installing equipment with intent to enable himself to observe another doing a private act for sexual gratification, and possessing indecent images of children.
But the court was told there was no evidence suggesting he had recorded the “hidden camera” toilet footage himself or was responsible for the abuse stills.
Following his guilty pleas, the probation service prepared a report in which he described himself as feeling “unhappy, isolated, lonely and sexually frustrated” during his 43-year marriage.
Judge Gareth Branston told the father-of-two that he should feel “embarrassed and ashamed” for the “disgusting and violating” crimes.
The court heard a woman was in an Aldi store with her son in June 2023 when Wickham had manoeuvred himself close to her.
Prosecutor Dominic Connolly said: “She describes how, as she turned round, she nearly bumped into the defendant, who apologised and walked away.
“She then noticed a mobile phone tied to his right foot with the camera facing up. She confronted him, asked him to show her and he produced a different phone.
“She asked for the phone he had on his foot, he refused and left the store.”
Mr Connolly then explained how CCTV showed Wickham prior to being caught out “wandering around the store, making unusual movements with his right foot and placing it beneath women’s skirts”.
Images were circulated by Kent Police, resulting in a couple for whom Wickham had once worked for coming forward to give his phone number and business name.
He was put in cuffs in July that year and analysis of several other devices seized from his home revealed evidence of his voyeurism and upskirting.
Mr Connolly said the material included 140 images of a woman using a toilet and two videos showing Wickham attaching his phone to his foot before walking around stores, “pausing on multiple occasions when standing close to females and recording beneath their clothing”.
The court heard that although the three child abuse images had been deleted, police were able to ascertain they depicted partially naked youngsters engaged in sexual acts with each other and adults alike.
Wickham, who has no previous convictions, was interviewed twice by police and answered “no comment” on each occasion.
His Aldi victim, however, told officers about the profound and lasting effect the incident has had on both herself and her son to this day and said she felt “completely violated, exposed and humiliated”.
“It was shocking to realise that in a public place where I should feel safe, someone chose to treat me in such a degrading and intrusive way.
“It’s difficult to put into words how distressing it was to know such a private part of my body was deliberately targeted without my knowledge or consent.
“What used to be a routine and simple task has become something I now approach with anxiety. Every time I go into that particular shop, I’m on edge.
“I find myself constantly looking around, checking who is near me and being hyper aware of my surroundings.
“I am no longer able to shop in a calm and carefree way. I feel tense and alert in situations where I previously felt comfortable and relaxed.
“It left me feeling deeply shaken and even though years have passed, I feel my sense of personal safety and dignity was taken away from me in that moment.”
She added that the impact on her son of witnessing the incident and its aftermath, and his understanding of the effect it had on her, was also upsetting.
Emin Kandola, defending Wickham, told the court he was “profoundly remorseful”, felt a “deep shame and embarrassment”, and understood the impact his offending had had on the victim.
She also explained that he and his wife were now in “a period of separation” and, having moved in with his mum, the role of caring for and supporting her had given him a “constructive focus”.
Urging the court to spare the defendant immediate custody, Ms Kandola highlighted his guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity and his voluntary steps to address his behaviour through therapy and counselling.
Passing sentence, Judge Branston said that although the offending involved “significant planning and multiple targets”, there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation that enabled him to suspend a six-month jail term for 18 months .
As part of his sentence, Wickham was ordered to take part in a probation service-accredtited programme for 26 days and complete up to 30 rehabilitation activity requirement sessions.
He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender notification requirements for 10 years, and told to pay £150 prosecution costs.
