School IT worker took 'upskirting' photos - court

A man took photos up the skirts of female victims in the secondary school where he worked as an IT technician, a court has heard.

Lewis Lawson-Brett, 22, was caught on CCTV following several victims up staircases when they were walking alone at St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College in Bradford, before "upskirting" them with his phone.

After he was arrested in May 2024, police found around 1,000 indecent images of children on his phone, Bradford Crown Court was told.

Lawson-Brett, who had previously admitted three charges of voyeurism, three charges relating to indecent images and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image, was sentenced to a 36-month community order.

Prosecutor Lydia Pearce told the court the defendant started working at the Bradford school in early 2024 as part of an apprenticeship programme.

His duties included fixing computers, printers and improving the school's CCTV systems.

It was said that in May 2024, concerns about Lawson-Brett's behaviour were raised and staff then observed him on camera upskirting several females, all of whom it was said were oblivious to what he was doing.

The court was told a decision had been taken not to tell Lawson-Brett's victims what he had done and they remain unaware they were targeted.

In testimony read out in court, the defendant's line manager said he had "abused the trust" of those at the school.

Mitigating, Jayne Beckett said Lawson-Brett, who had no previous convictions, felt "ashamed" and "disgusted" by his own behaviour.

It was said that while he was keen to take responsibility for his actions, he had denied they were sexually motivated.

Lawson-Brett, of Church Street in Cullingworth, appeared in court from HMP Leeds, where he had been held on remand for 11 months.

Judge Kirstie Watson said that she had initially intended to sentence Lawson-Brett to more time in prison, but decided his rehabilitation would be better served out of jail.

As part of his community order, the defendant was told he would have to attend a sexual awareness programme and complete 50 hours of unpaid work.

He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

Addressing him directly, Judge Watson said: "I make it absolutely clear to you that this is a direct alternative to custody.

"If you break any part of this order, or if you break the sexual harm prevention order in the terms set out, you will be back in this court and you will go back to custody for a longer period of time."

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